86 A FLORA OF MANILA 
racemosely arranged, ovoid-lanceolate, acuminate, green or purplish, 3 
mm long, in pairs, one of each pair longer pedicelled than the other. 
First and second glumes appressed-pubescent with grayish hairs. 
In open wet grass lands, paddy banks, etc., common, fl. all the year; 
widely distributed in the Philippines, possibly introduced. Tropics gen- 
erally. 
20. PASPALUM Linnaeus 
Annual or perennial, erect, ascending or spreading grasses. Spikelets 
1-flowered plano-convex, in spike-like branches of a simple panicle or 
raceme, the spikes digitately or racemosely arranged. Glumes 3, the first 
and second equal, thin, the third coriaceous, bearing a perfect flower, the 
palea similar in texture. (A Greek name for millet.) 
Species about 175, in all warm countries, about 4 in the Philippines. 
1. Spikes alternate on an elongated rachis. 
2. Spikelets anostly .4-ranked s...-<csces- sich cptaonstgn- eos avieneaet 1. P. longifolium 
2. Spikelets 2-ranked......... eT ad Perr ear rel ae 2. P. scrobiculatum 
1. Spikes in pairs at the ends of the stems. 
2. Spikelets ovate-oblong, glabrous; leaves narrow............ 3. P. distichum 
2. Spikelets suborbicular, margins of the second glume ciliate; leaves 
LY Ce ae ee eo eRe 2 ee ee OMS Rt er ee OP Meee 4. P. conjugatum 
1. P. longifolium Roxb. 
A tufted, glabrous, erect, perennial grass 0.8 to 1.3 m high, the stems 
somewhat prostrate and branched below. Sheaths loose. Leaves about 20 
cm long, 5 to 8 mm wide. Inflorescence exserted, each composed of from 
4 to 8 or more, racemosely arranged, alternate, spreading or ascending, 
5 to 8 cm long spikes. Spikelets 2 to 2.5 mm long, somewhat compressed, 
obovoid, the empty glumes slightly pubescent, densely arranged in’ about 
4 rows on the under surface of the somewhat flattened, green 3 to 4 mm 
wide rachis. ; 
In open wet grass lands, Pasay, fl. all the year; widely distributed in 
the Philippines. India to Malaya. 
2. P. scrobiculatum L. 
An erect, rather slender, nearly glabrous, somewhat wiry, tufted, peren- 
nial grass 40 to 80 cm high. Leaves flat, 6 to 15 cm long, 5 to 8 mm wide. 
Spikes 3 or 4, usually spreading, 4 to 8 cm long. Spikelets pale, 2-seriate, 
about 2 mm long. 
In open, usually dry lands, fl. all the year; throughout the Philippines. 
All warm countries. 
Var. auriculatum (Presl) Merr. 
Much coarser, taller, up to 1 m high. Leaves broad, often auriculate 
at the base. Spikes stout, 4 to 6. Spikelets 2.5 mm long. 
In low damp places near Pateros, fl. Dec._Jan.; widely distributed in the 
Philippines, endemic. 
Var. bispicatum Hack. 
Smaller than the typical form, 20 to 40 cm high, with usually but two 
spikes 3 to 4 em in length. 
In old rice lands, San Pedro Macati, fl. July—Sept.; of very local occur- 
rence. Endemic. 
