Paspalum virletii

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 40 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–14 cm long; 6–8 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5; borne along a central axis; spreading; unilateral; 4–5.7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5.5 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2 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; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

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; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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