Paspalum simplex

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–120 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–15; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–7.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; flattened; 0.8–1.2 mm wide; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing 2–4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; curved; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2–2.3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.3 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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