Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Paspalum | > | scrobiculatum |
Synonyms: |
Paspalum auriculatum Presl Paspalum commersonii Lam. Paspalum dissectum var. grande Nees Paspalum orbiculare G. Forst. Paspalum polystachyum R. Br. Paspalum scrobiculatum var. auriculatum (Presl) Merr. Paspalum scrobiculatum var. bispicatum Hackel Paspalum scrobiculatum var. commersonii (Lam.) Stapf Paspalum scrobiculatum var. polystachyum (R.Br.) Stapf |
Common names: | Veld paspalum (English) |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial tufted grass, up to 1.5 m, but usually much smaller, 1–6 mm. in diam., the nodes mostly exposed, erect or ascending from a decumbent base and rooting at the nodes below. Leaves light green, often tinged with purple, leaf laminae 5–40 cm. long, 3–15 mm. wide, linear, tapering to a filiform apex. Inflorescence mostly digitate with 2 or 3 racemes, but occasionally more, or borne on an axis up to 8 cm. long, the longest raceme 4–15 cm. long. Spikelets 1.4–3 mm. long, green becoming brown, almost round, glabrous, in 2 overlapping rows along the thickened rhachis 1–2.5 mm. wide. Inferior glume absent. Inferior lemma papery or rarely coriaceous, glabrous. Superior lemma brown at maturity. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | scrobiculatum: minutely pitted |
Habitat: | In damp soils, roadsides and cultivated land, often near water. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1900 m |
Flowering time: | Oct - May |
Worldwide distribution: | Throughout the Old World tropics. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 358. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 42. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 28. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Pages 89 - 90. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 441. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 53. As Paspalum commersonii and as P. polystachyum Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 108. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 142. |
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