Paspalum distichum L.

Perennials, with numerous long-creeping branching stolons to 3 mm diam., rooting at nodes. Leaf-sheath submembranous, glabrous. Ligule 1–1.6 mm, erose, truncate. Collar hairs few, long, tubercle-based. Leaf-blade 2.5–9 cm × 2–8 mm, rather soft, flat, linear-lanceolate, curved at base, abaxially glabrous with obvious midrib, adaxially with scattered, long, fine tubercle-based hairs; margins scabrid, gradually narrowed to acuminate scabrid tip. Culm 7–35–(45) cm, erect or geniculate-ascending, compressed, nodes long-hairy, internodes glabrous. Panicle of (1)–2–(3) erect to spreading racemes, ± digitate at culm apex. Racemes 2–5 cm, sometimes one or both shortly pedunculate; axils with a few long white hairs; rachis 1–2 mm wide, concave, narrowly winged with scabrid margins, bearing 2 rows of single or paired, subsessile or shortly pedicelled spikelets; pedicels scabrid; paired spikelets usually near centre of rachis. Spikelets c. 2.5–3.5 mm, imbricate, elliptic, acute, light green. Lower glume a minute scale rarely to 1 mm, or 0, upper = spikelet, 5-nerved, minutely appressed-puberulent. Lower floret: lemma ≈ upper glume and slightly less membranous, 3–5-nerved, glabrous; palea rarely present, narrow, short, hyaline, 2-keeled. Upper floret: lemma 2–3 mm, faintly 5-nerved, cartilaginous-indurate, finely punctulate-striolate, broad-elliptic, acute, light cream, apex often with tuft of short hairs; palea ≈ lemma, hyaline margins only slightly widened near centre; anthers 1–1.7 mm, dark purple; stigmas dark purple; caryopsis 1.5–2 mm.

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