Paspalum soukupii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long. Culm-internodes 5–13 cm long; yellow; striate; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths 4–10 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 3–9 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle 10–17 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes 8–23; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 1–3.3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–8 cm long; glabrous, or puberulous. Rhachis deciduous from axis; broadly winged; membranous; 1.8–2.5 mm wide; puberulous on surface; scaberulous on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened. Spikelet packing abaxial; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.3–0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2–2.7 mm long; 0.7–0.9 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2–2.7 mm long; indurate; pallid, or purple; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.4–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.7 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Mor. & Zul. 2001.

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