Paspalum saccharoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; robust; 100–200 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 8–13 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; digitate; flexuous; unilateral; 15–30 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–5 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; with rounded midrib; 0.5–0.75 mm wide; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acuminate; 2.5–3 mm long; with hairs extending 3–5 mm beyond apex; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 2 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 0.75 length of spikelet; hyaline; 2 -veined; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Man WI.

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