Paspalum squamulatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 20–60 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–4.5 mm long; brown; lacerate. Collar glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 7–11 cm long; 8–13 mm wide; dark green. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.5–0.7 mm wide. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.5–1.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1.3–1.7 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–0.9 mm long; brown.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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