Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
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Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 7 (1786)
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Biostatus
Indigenous, non-endemic
Wild
New Zealand
Political Region
Edgar & Connor 2010 give as biostatus "Naturalised from the Pacific". This information was copied unchanged from the first edition of the grass Flora (Edgar & Connor 2000) by mistake. This taxon is regarded as indigenous (de Lange & Murray 2002). Banks and Solander collected Paspalum orbiculare on Cook's first jorney to New Zealand.
Nomenclature
G.Forst.
G.Forst.
1786
7
ICN
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
species
Paspalum orbiculare
Classification
Descriptions
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
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.
Taxonomic concepts
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Paspalum scrobiculatum L.
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
Collections
Metadata
aac79bef-f65e-4e52-830f-a82d0faf8a67
scientific name
Names_Plants
1 January 2000
15 May 2012