Paspalum redundans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 70–90 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 3–7 mm wide; dark green. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; borne along a central axis; erect, or ascending; flexuous; unilateral; 2.5–6 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1–1.3 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Raceme-bases pilose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flattened; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; turgidly plano-convex; obtuse; 4–5 mm long; 2.5–2.8 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; 4 mm long; 2.3–2.5 mm wide; indurate; grey, or light brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in lower sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 2001.

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