Paspalum tolucense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.3–2.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–15 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)2(–3); paired; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; flattened; 0.6–1.3 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.6 mm long; 1.1–1.7 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; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous.

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; glabrous. Fertile lemma obovate; 2.2–2.6 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Guzman 2004.

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