Paspalum serpentinum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long; 1.5 mm diam. Culm-internodes solid; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes constricted; glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 3–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pilose above.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Rhachis wingless; 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.5–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; light brown and dark brown (mottled); 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; orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margins); obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–2.8 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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