Paspalum rottboellioides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms slender; 20–75 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 5–18 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–2; single, or paired; unilateral; 4–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–2 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 3–3.3 mm long; 1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface villous; hairy below. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins); concave across back; villous; hairy at base; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3–2.5 mm long; 0.9 mm wide; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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