Paspalum exaltatum*

Paspalum exaltatum* J. & C. Presl.
Rel. Haenk. 1: 219 (1830.

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: T. Haenke s.n., no date, Cordillera de
Chili (PR; IT: B, US-2854692 (fragm. ex B & photo), W). Specimen
mislabeled, the collection is from Montevideo, Uruguay.

Recent synonyms:
P. arechavaletae.

Key references
(books and floras):
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia
.

Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present. Stolons absent. Culms erect, 100–300 cm tall, 5–6
-noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous
on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 3–6 mm
long. Leaf-blades 15–150 cm long, 3–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous,
glabrous.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes 10–44, appressed or
spreading, 2–10 cm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide, bearing 50–80 fertile spikelets on
each. Central inflorescence axis 10–25 cm long.

Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren
(rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic, dorsally
compressed, 2.5–4 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate, 2.5–3.2 mm long, hyaline or
membranous, without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume surface indumented. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 3 -nerved.

Fertile lemma 2.3–3 mm
long, without keel. Anthers 3.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia and South America.

Australian
Distribution
: Queensland.

Queensland:
Wide Bay.

Notes.
Introduced. In tropical heaths. Known from only a few collections. Its present
status is uncertain. Paspalum exaltatum is a distinctive species with no
economic importance. Flowers Jan.-May.

 

AVH 2011

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith