Paspalum subciliatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 15–45 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or conduplicate; 10–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 3–6.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 2.2–2.4 mm long; 1.2–1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; mid-green; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; mid-green; 3 -veined; ciliate on margins; fringed above; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.2–2.4 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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