Paspalum urvillei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 80–250 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 6–12 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10–20; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–20 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1 mm wide. Spikelet packing regular; 2–4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; yellow; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; pilose; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern. Africa: Macaronesia, west tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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