Paspalum pumilum

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms 10–40 cm long; 1–1.5 mm diam. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 2.5–4 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.5–1.8 mm long; 1.1–1.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or one to two the lower present in some spikelets; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.1–0.2 mm long; hyaline; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins). Fertile lemma ovate; 1.4–1.6 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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