Paspalum setaceum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 30–90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–30 cm long; 2–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to hirsute. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary.

Racemes 1–2(–5); single, or paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–17 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–8 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.5–1 mm wide.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or orbicular, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 1.4–2.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; with capitate hairs (gland tipped). Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; without midvein, or with evident midvein; glabrous, or puberulous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 1.4–2.6 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: northwestern and north-central. North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1993.

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