Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Poales Small
Family
Gramineae Juss.
Genus
Paspalum L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 7 (1786)
Vernacular Name(s):
scrobic; Tarakoi; Taranui; Tuhui
 Description

Tufted perennials, with rather stiff, loosely sheathing, erect leaves. Leaf-sheath subcoriaceous, striate, keeled, brown to purplish brown, mainly glabrous, but lowermost sheaths with fine silky hairs, especially near base; sheath apex extended upwards at each margin and fused with ligule. Ligule 1–2 mm, truncate, entire. Leaf-blade 10–20–(30) cm × 3.5–5 mm, often narrower than summit of sheath, flat, rather rigid, midrib obvious, abaxially glabrous, adaxially thickly short-pilose near ligule, with a few very long hairs near margin below; margins finely scabrid, tapered to fine but firm tip. Culm (20)–35–70 cm, usually erect, sometimes semi-prostrate, slightly compressed, internodes glabrous, striate. Panicle erect, 6–12 cm, of 3–8 erect to somewhat spreading ± distant racemes; rachis slender, compressed to angular, finely scabrid on angles above. Racemes (2)–3–4 cm; rachis narrowly winged, with very scabrid margins, 1.2–1.7 mm wide, with short white hairs at base, bearing 2 rows of single or paired, shortly pedicelled or almost sessile spikelets; pedicels sparsely scabrid; paired spikelets usually near centre of raceme. Spikelets 2–2.5 mm, imbricate, ovoid-elliptic to ovoid-orbicular, glabrous, obtuse, light brown. Lower glume 0, upper = spikelet, closely appressed to fertile floret, 3–(5)-nerved, glabrous. Lower floret: lemma = spikelet, 3–(5)-nerved, glabrous; palea 0. Upper floret: lemma c. 2 mm, elliptic-orbicular, cartilaginous-indurate, shining, brown, finely punctulate-striolate; palea ≤ and narrower than lemma, membranous margins widened at base, forming wings enclosing flower; anthers c. 1 mm, yellow to brownish; stigmas dark purple; caryopsis slightly > 1 mm.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Murray, B.G. 2002: Contributions to a chromosome atlas of the New Zealand flora—37. Miscellaneous families. New Zealand Journal of Botany 40: 1–23.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Declining]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Nationally Vulnerable]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Declining]
Edgar, E.; Connor, H.E. 2010: Flora of New Zealand Volume V Grasses. Edition 2. Manaaki Whenua Press.
Forster, J.G.A. 1786: Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Dietrich, Göttingen.