Paspalum quadrifarium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms 90–180 cm long; 4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 15–40 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 15–25; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 6–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 12–25 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; with sharp-edged midrib; with scattered hairs, or glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing irregular; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1 mm long; bearing a few hairs, or glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.1–2.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; red; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume hairs white. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 3 -veined; glabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 2.1–2.6 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl NSW 1993.

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