吳氏雀稗

Paspalum urvillei drawing Credit: CC Hsu

Perennials; rhizome short; culm tufted, 50-200 cm high, glabrous. Blade 15-25 cm long, 5-15 mm wide, glabrous or slightly hariy on basal part; sheath densely covered with long stiff hairs, mouth of sheath with long white hairs; ligule 3-5 mm long tipped with long hairs. Inflorescence of 10-20 racemose racemes, 15-40 cm long; racemes 8-15 cm long. Spikelets 2-3-rows on one side of rachis, ovate, acute, 2-3 mm long, light green to slightly purple, margins densely covered with silky long hairs; lower glume reduced; upper glume with its backside facing rachis, ovate, 3-veined, lateral veins parallel to margins; lower lemma and upper glume alike, flat on dorsal part; upper lemma coriaceous, glabrous, elliptic, margins inrolled, veins obscure; stigma and anthers blackish purple.

TAIPEI: Taipei, Hsu 5506.

Originally from Uruguay and Argentina, but now introduced into many warm countries. Taiwan, along ditches and roadsides, also in waste places.