Paspalum stagnophilum

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 10–30 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 5–9; digitate; unilateral; 1.5–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–2 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acute, or acuminate; 1.5–6 mm long (shorter distally); falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; pilose; hairy below; hairy on veins; bearing hairs 0.5 mm long; obtuse. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.5–6 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate. Palea separating from lemma above; lanceolate; 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

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

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS = R.brasiliensis.

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