Paspalum reclinatum

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–45 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–2 mm long; brown; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades 5–14 cm long; 4–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–11; borne along a central axis; ascending, or drooping; unilateral; 1.5–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3.5–7.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 1–1.2 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 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; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1994.

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