Common name
Plicatulum

Derivation
Paspalum L., Syst. Nat. 10th edn, 855 (1759); from the Greek paspalos (a kind of millet).

plicatulum- from the Latin plicatus (folded) and -ulum (tending towards). The sterile lemma is transversely wrinkled.

Published in
Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 45 (1803).

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Cataphylls present. Rhizomes short. Stolons absent. Culms erect or geniculately ascending or decumbent, 30–120 cm tall, 5–12-noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or present. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate, 8–30 cm long, 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous or pilose, hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes 2–7, spreading, unilateral, 2–15 cm long, 0.9–1.2 mm wide, bearing 50–90 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 3–15 cm long. Rhachis wingless, angular, 1 mm wide. Spikelet packing irregular, 2–4-rowed.

Spikelets
Spikelets in pairs. Pedicels 0.7–1.2 mm long. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret sterile, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, elliptic or obovate, dorsally compressed, plano-convex, obtuse, 2.3–3.2 mm long, falling entire.

Glumes
Glume 1 (the lower absent or obscure), thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate, 2.5–2.8 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, hyaline or membranous, 5–7-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or puberulous. Upper glume margins eciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume, ovate, 2.5–2.8 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, thicker on margins, 5-nerved, wrinkled, glabrous or puberulous, obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate, gibbous, 2–3 mm long, indurate, dark brown. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute, indurate. Anthers 0.8–1.6 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Temperate Asia, Australasia, North America, South America.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.

Western Australia: Gardner. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Wide Bay, Moreton.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae

Notes
Introduced. In tropical heaths, tropical and subtropical rain forests, Brigalow forests, and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowers Mar.–July.