A New Awned Species of Paspalum (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paniceae) from Brazil

Abstract. A new species of Paspalum L. (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paniceae), P. rostratum D. Ramos, Valls & R. C. Oliveira, from the Distrito Federal in central Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is awned and is related to P. biaristatum Filg. & Davidse and P. longiaristatum Davidse & Filg., to which it is compared. Distinguishing features of P. rostratum include shorter awns and a rostrate upper lemma, as well as the free branching and flowering from the upper nodes, with the successive branches forming cymose branching systems.