Paspalum unispicatum

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms 50–80 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 8–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous, or hirsute; hairy abaxially; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 7–20 cm long. Rhachis wingless.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2.9–3.3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes two, or one to two the lower present in some spikelets; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.25–0.75 length of spikelet. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. 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; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.9–3.3 mm long; indurate; yellow, or light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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