Paspalum laurentii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths 4–6 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.5 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–18 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; densely hairy; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3.5–4.6 cm long; 8 mm wide. Rhachis wingless; angular; pilose on surface. Spikelet packing irregular; 2–4 -rowed. Raceme-bases pilose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; obtuse; 2.2 mm long; 1.7 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume obovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; obscurely veined; pilose; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; gibbous; 2.2 mm long; 1.7 mm wide; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.1 mm long. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Oliviera & Valls 2011.

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