Paspalum vallsii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 95 cm long; 1.5 mm diam.; 5–6 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths 7.5–9.5 cm long; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–0.6 mm long; brown; acute. Leaf-blades 15–26 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 25–28 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 5–7 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; 1.3–1.4 mm wide; terminating in a barren extension. Spikelet packing crowded; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; plano-convex; 6.5–6.7 mm long; 3.2 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; auriculate at base; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; winged on margins; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume margins eciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; auriculate at base; 5.5–5.7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; chartaceous; glabrous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.8–4.5 mm long; 1.3 mm wide; cartilaginous; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute; ciliolate. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; coriaceous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.4 mm long. Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Oliveira & Rua 2007.

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