Paspalum crassum

HABIT Annual. Culms 100–200 cm long; with prop roots. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 15–60 cm long; 10–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–10; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 5–15 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; foliaceous; 2.5–3.5 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 3.1–3.3 mm long; 1.7–2 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; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; concave across back. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–3.1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface papillose and striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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