Paspalum reduncum

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; 60–90 cm long. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 7–14 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; densely hairy; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–10; borne along a central axis; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 1–3.5 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; foliaceous; folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing crowded; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 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 elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong, or obovate; 2–3 mm long; indurate; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate. Palea keels tuberculate. Palea surface smooth.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Renvoize 1995.

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