Paspalum vaginatum Sw.

Decumbent perennials, with numerous, long-creeping stolons, bearing very wide, loose, papery sheaths at nodes; erect shoots often in close tufts, much-branched near base. Leaf-sheath submembranous, glabrous; apex extended upwards at each margin and fused with ligule. Ligule 0.5–1 mm, scarcely tapered, shortly bluntly pointed, glabrous. Collar with small tufts of hairs. Leaf-blade 3–8 cm × 1–2 mm, rather stiff, much narrower than sheath, ± inrolled, narrow-linear, glabrous, tapering to acuminate tip. Culm (3)–7.5–18–(30) cm, erect or geniculate-ascending, slender, compressed, internodes glabrous. Panicle of 2–(3) erect to spreading racemes ± digitate at culm apex. Racemes 2–3 cm, distinctly pedunculate; rachis < 1 mm wide, scarcely winged, ± glabrous, bearing 2 rows of single, subsessile spikelets. Spikelets 3–4 mm, imbricate, elliptic, tapered above to acute or acuminate tip, light green to light brown, glabrous. Lower glume 0, upper = lemma of lower floret, 3-nerved. Lower floret: lemma 3-nerved; palea 0. Upper floret: lemma c. 3 mm, indurated, faintly 3-nerved, glabrous, shining, light creamy brown; palea = lemma, margins flattened, very slightly incurved; anthers 1.7–1.9 mm, yellow to brownish; caryopsis c. 1.5 mm.

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