Paspalum wrightii

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 150–170 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths loose; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 20–40 cm long; 5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–9; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 4–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 8–10 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 1.5–2 mm wide; scaberulous on margins; glabrous on margins.

Spikelets 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; 2.2–2.5 mm long; 1.4 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 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 elliptic; 2.2 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Chase 1994.

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