Paspalum

• Authority

  Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.

• Family

  Poaceae

• Scientific Name

  Paspalum

• Description

  Genus Description - Perennials. Inflorescences of 1-many racemes, these conjugately paired or racemosely arranged; rachis of racemes flattened to triquetrous, the spikelets borne in two rows on solitary pedicels (the raceme thus appearing 2-rowed), often overlapping, the upper glume and upper lemma facing rachis, the lower lemma facing away; spikelets disarticulating as a whole from pedicel. Spikelets orbicular to ovate, lenticular or plano-convex, 2-flowered; lower glume absent, the upper glume as long as to somewhat shorter than spikelet; lower floret sterile, the lemma as long as spikelet, generally flattened, 3-5-veined, the palea absent; upper floret with lemma usually broadly rounded on back, shorter than spikelet, indurate, stramineous to dark brown, smooth to papillose, the margins commonly inrolled over edges of a palea of similar texture.