Paspalum longifolium Roxb. Fl.Ind.
Carey 1: 283 (1820).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: India: cultivated, W. Roxburgh s.n. (HT: BM
(photo, K); IT: US-1445175 (fragm.)).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (328).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (328).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present. Stolons absent. Culms erect, 30–130 cm tall, 5–12
-noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparsely branched.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule
an eciliate membrane, 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 9–35 cm long, 3–9 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes (1–)2–5(–12), spreading,
1.5–12 cm long, 2–3.2 mm wide, bearing 90–150 fertile spikelets on each.
Central inflorescence axis 1–15 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren
(rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, obovate, dorsally
compressed, 1.7–3 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume obovate, 2.1–3 mm long, hyaline or
membranous or chartaceous, without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume surface
glabrous or indumented. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren,
without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of
spikelet, chartaceous, 3–5 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1.6–3 mm
long, without keel. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, South Kennedy, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast.
Notes. In
tropical heaths, tropical and subtropical rain forests, and tropical and
subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Usually associated with damp soils and grazed
in moderation. Flowers mostly Nov.-May.
