Paspalum mandiocanum Trin. var. mandiocanum

broad-leaved paspalum


Info

Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus etymology: Paspalum = "millet" [Greek] some species are used as cereals
Species etymology: mandiocanum = from Mandioca, Brazil
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - unclear
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1987

Map

 Distribution of Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum in Hawaiʻi.
 Distribution of Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Inflorescence
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Inflorescence

Plant

Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Plant
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Plant

Habit

Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Habit
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Habit
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Habit

Spikelets

Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets
Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Spikelets

Landscape

Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Landscape

Node

Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Node

Collar

Paspalum mandiocanum var. mandiocanum Collar

Description

Habit: Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 45-125 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10-30 cm long; 8-17 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute. Inflorescences: Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 4-6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3-9 cm long. Rhachis angular; 1 mm wide. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong. Spikelets: Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2-2.1 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire. Fertile Spikelets: Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 2-2.1 mm long; 1.5 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 apex acute. Florets: Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2-2.1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate. Flowers: Anthers 3. Fruits: Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Distribution: South America: Brazil and southern South America.
(Description source: Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. Available at https://powo.science.kew.org )