Paspalum pulchellum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–80 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)2(–3); single, or paired, or digitate; unilateral; 3–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–1 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; bearing a few hairs; hairy at tip; with 0.5 mm long hairs.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.3–1.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; gibbous; 1.3–1.7 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.