Paspalum vaginatum

Semi-aquatic, long-rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial. Culms erect or ascending, to c. 50 cm high; nodes of prostrate stems glabrous. Leaves glabrous or sparsely ciliate along the margins; blade channelled or (commonly) closely folded, to 15 cm long and 4 mm wide; ligule truncate, c. 1 mm long. Panicle forked (rarely with 3 racemes), the racemes 2–5 cm long. Spikelets subsessile, in two rows, oblong-ovate, 3–4.5 mm long, acute; lower glume lacking; upper glume 4–6-nerved (mid-vein not developed) as long as spikelet, glabrous; lower lemma 5-nerved, equal to upper glume; fertile lemma slightly shorter than spikelet, almost flat, firm, smooth and pale. Flowers Oct.–Mar.