Paspalum scrobiculatum

Species

Paspalum scrobiculatum L.

Family

Poaceae

Tribe

Paniceae

Common names

kodo-millet, Indian paspalum

Disseminule

spikelet; disarticulation below the glumes

Description

Spikelets solitary, not associated with a naked pedicel or rudimentary spikelets. Spikelets orbicular to broadly elliptic or obovate, dorsally compressed, plano-convex, 1.4–3.2 mm long, 1.5–2.3 mm wide, completely glabrous, consisting of 1 fertile floret and 1 basal sterile lemma. Lower glume absent; upper glume membranous or chartaceous, as long as spikelet, 5–7-nerved. Sterile lemma similar to upper glume, 3–5-nerved. Fertile lemma indurate, olive green to dark brown, glossy, striate, convex, as long as spikelet, 1.4–1.8 mm wide, with margins inrolled, covering palea margins; palea flat, indurate, glossy. Caryopsis 1.1–1.5 mm long, nearly orbicular, reddish-brown; embryo less than 1/2 the length of the caryopsis; hilum oval.

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. The species is native to India where it is grown as a cereal called "Kodo".