Paspalum urbanianum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; scaly. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 80–100 cm long. Lateral branches sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Collar pilose. Leaf-blades aciculate; terete; 30–60 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–5; borne along a central axis; flexuous; unilateral; 8–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 8–20 cm long. Rhachis wingless; flattened; 0.7–0.8 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; lax, or distant.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 3.5–3.8 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 elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous. 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; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Man Gr WI 1994.

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