Ribbed Paspalum

This is the only species of Paspalum in China lacking both glumes.

The species is cultivated for hay and sometimes used in soil conservation work.

Perennial with short rhizomes. Culms slender to robust, 1–2 m tall. Leaf sheaths papillose-pilose in upper part and mouth; leaf blades linear-lanceolate, flat, 10–40 × 0.6–3 cm, glabrous or pilose, the lower narrowed to a slender base, apex long acuminate; ligule ca. 2 mm. Inflorescence axis 4–20 cm; racemes up to 30, 3–6 cm, ascending, axils long pilose; spikelets paired, in 4 dense rows; rachis winged, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, margins scabrous, sometimes setose. Spikelets often purplish, oblong-navicular, 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous; both glumes absent; lower lemma as long as spikelet, concave, membranous, 3-veined with laterals marginal; upper lemma dorsally convex, papery, 5-veined, veins prominent and forming ribs, apex acute. Fl. and fr. summer–autumn. 2n = 20, 40.

Cultivated. Gansu [native to South America].