Paspalum dissectum Thunberg, Fl. Jap. 45. 1784, not (Linnaeus) Linnaeus (1762); P. scrobiculatum Linnaeus var. thunbergii (Kunth ex Steudel) Makino.

Perennial from short knotty rootstock. Culms tufted, erect, 50–100 cm tall, nodes glabrous or pilose. Leaf sheaths keeled, hirsute; leaf blades linear, 10–25 × 0.5–0.8 cm, hirsute on both surfaces, rarely glabrous, apex acuminate; ligule 0.5–1.5 mm. Inflorescence axis 1–9 cm; racemes 2–6, 3–10 cm, laxly ascending or spreading, axils pilose; spikelets commonly paired at least in central part of raceme or a vestigial 2nd spikelet present; rachis ca. 1 mm wide, margins scaberulous; pedicels minutely puberulous. Spikelets elliptic to orbicular-elliptic, plumply plano-convex, 2.5–3 mm, rounded or subacute; upper glume membranous, 3-veined with laterals marginal, sparsely pubescent especially along margins; lower lemma similar but glabrous; upper lemma pallid, as long as spikelet, coriaceous, punctulate-striate, obtuse. Fl. and fr. May–Oct. 2n = 20, 40.

This species is similar to Paspalum scrobiculatum, but most easily distinguished by its pale fertile floret. The marginal pubescence on the spikelets is a good confirmatory character.

Fields, waste places, usually on moist soils. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, India (Darjeeling, Sikkim), Japan, Korea].