Paspalum limbatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 35–50 cm long; 2 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; 3–5 cm long; striate; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 5–7 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.2–2.4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless throughout, or except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle glabrous.

Racemes 2–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 2–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–4 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; 0.4 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; terminating in a sterile spikelet. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal; 0.4–0.6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 1.6–1.8 mm long; 1–1.1 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; 5 -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; thicker on margins; thinner along midline; 5 -veined; smooth; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; gibbous; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 1 mm wide; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Rev Pasp Amer Sur 2007.

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