Paspalum juergensii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 70–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–20 cm long; 8–12 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; linear; arcuate; unilateral; 10–15 cm long. Rhachis broadly winged; membranous; folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets; with rounded midrib; 5–6 mm wide; pubescent on surface (along keel). Spikelet packing crowded; regular; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; 0.5–0.8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.2–2.5 mm long; 0–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume obovate; 4 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; 13–15 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex dentate; 7 -fid; truncate (hooded).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 4 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 5 -veined; sulcate; obtuse; mucronate (2 mucros). Awn of lower sterile floret subapical. Palea of lower sterile floret becoming indurate on keels at maturity; winged on keels. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface punctate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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