Brownseed Paspalum

"Paspalum plicatum Persoon" (Syn. Pl. 1: 86. 1805) is merely an orthographical variant of P. plicatulum.

This species is used for fodder.

Perennial. Culms tufted, erect or ascending, usually compressed, 30–150 cm tall. Leaf sheaths longer than internodes, keeled, glabrous or pubescent at base; leaf blades linear, usually folded at base, flat above, 10–50 × 0.3–1 cm, adaxial surface pilose at base and mouth, apex acuminate; ligule 1–2 mm. Inflorescence axis 3–15 cm; racemes 3–10, 5–8 cm, laxly ascending to spreading, axils pilose; spikelets paired; rachis 0.75–1 mm wide. Spikelets brown at maturity, obovate, 2–3 mm, subacute to obtuse; upper glume membranous, 5-veined, glabrous or sometimes appressed-pubescent; lower lemma membranous, 3–5-veined, glabrous, with short transverse wrinkles just inside the slightly raised margin; upper lemma deep brown, strongly convex dorsally, subequaling spikelet, smooth, shiny. Fl. and fr. summer–autumn. 2n = 20, 40, 60.

Cultivated in Gansu [native to tropical and subtropical America].

Panicum plicatulum (Michaux) Kuntze.