Paspalum dilatatum Poir.

Tufted perennials, sometimes forming dense stands, from short, strong rhizomes to c. 1 cm diam. Leaf-sheath rather stiff, lowermost densely long-hairy, others glabrous. Ligule (2)–3–5 mm, entire, rounded. Leaf-blade (6.5)–12.5–18.5–(25) cm × 5.5–8 mm, rather stiff, flat, glabrous apart from a few long hairs on margins and adaxially near ligule, midrib conspicuous; margins scabrid, narrowed above to acuminate tip. Culm 25–55–(180) cm, ± flattened, to 2.5 mm diam., erect or geniculate-ascending and drooping above, nodes glabrous or the lowermost sparsely pubescent, internodes glabrous. Panicle usually nodding, 8–15 cm, with (2)–3–6 often spreading or drooping, rather distant racemes; rachis slender, flattened. Racemes 4.5–6.5–(11) cm; rachis c. 1 mm wide, narrowly winged, scabrid-margined with numerous white hairs at base, bearing 2 rows of paired, shortly pedicelled spikelets; pedicels scabrid. Spikelets c. 3–3.5 mm, closely imbricate, broadly elliptic-ovate, ciliate, acute, green or purplish. Lower glume 0, upper = spikelet, 5–9-nerved, sparsely hairy, margins ciliate, hairs long, silky. Lower floret: lemma ≈ spikelet, 5–9-nerved, glabrous, or margins sometimes sparsely hairy; palea 0. Upper floret: lemma 2.2–2.5 mm, very broadly elliptic to orbicular, crustaceous, faintly 5-nerved, minutely papillose and longitudinally striate, light cream; palea ≈ lemma, incurved, membranous margins widened at base, forming wings enclosing flower; anthers 0.9–1.3 mm, dark purple; stigmas deep reddish purple; caryopsis c. 1.5 mm.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]