Paspalum telmatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 50–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; straight; 20–30 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–7; borne along a central axis; ascending; straight; unilateral; 3–5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 6–8 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 3 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous. Fertile lemma obovate; 2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen 2004.

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