Paspalum variabile

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 70–100 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades ascending; 10–30 cm long; 7–18 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary.

Racemes (1–)2–4; single, or paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 4–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–7 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; subacute; 2.9–3.2 mm long; 1.7 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes two; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.2–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; much thinner on margins; eglandular, or glandular; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; dark brown; glandular; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. 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; dark brown; 5 -veined; pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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