Paspalum scrobiculatum L.

Family: Poaceae,  Tribe: Paniceae

Common names:  kodo-millet

Disseminule:  Spikelet; disarticulation below the glumes.

Description

Spikelets of 1 fertile floret and 1 basal sterile lemma. Spikelets orbicular to broadly elliptic or obovate, dorsally compressed, plano-convex, 1.4-3.2 mm long, 1.5-2.1 mm wide, completely glabrous. Lower glume absent; upper glume membranous or chartaceous, as long as spikelet. Sterile lemma similar to upper glume, 3-5-nerved. Fertile lemma indurate, dark brown, glossy, striate, convex, as long as spikelet, with margins inrolled, covering palea margins; palea flat, indurate, glossy.

Distribution

Tropical and southern Africa, the Indian subcontinent to China, Southeast Asia, and Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands; also Japan and Korea; Brazil, United States.

Habitat

Poor, thin soil, swampy ground; wet, open cultivated places, pastures, wasteland.

General information

Paspalum scrobiculatum is a perennial tufted grass up to 100 cm tall. Propagation is by grain.

Spikelets and florets

Spikelets in dorsal view showing upper glume (top) and ventral view showing sterile lemma (bottom)

Dorsal view of florets showing lemma and remnants of upper glume

Ventral view of florets showing palea and margins of lemma

Caryopses in dorsal view (left) and ventral view (right)

photo by Mark Thurmond

A, Spikelet in ventral view; B, spikelet in dorsal view; C, floret in ventral view; D, floret in dorsal view; E, caryopsis in ventral view; F, caryopsis in dorsal view

drawing by Lynda E. Chandler