Paspalum. | GRAMINE. 845 
the lowest smaller or absent; upper or flowering glume much 
firmer, cartilaginous or almost coriaceous, 5—7-nerved. Palea 
similar in texture to the flowering glume but rather smaller, 2- 
nerved. lLodicules 2, cuneate. Stamens 3. Styles 2, distinct to 
the base, rather long. Grain ovoid or oblong, free, enclosed within 
the hardened flowering-glume and palea. 
Species about 160, scattered through the tropics of both hemispheres, 
but most abundant in America. The three species found in New Zealand 
are widely distributed. 
Rhizome not creeping. Culms usually erect, 1-3 ft. 
Spikelets orbicular-ovoid, obtuse .. . IL. P. scrobiculatum. 
Rhizome long, creeping. Culms ascending, "6-24 in. 
Leaves flat, 4-4in. broad. Lateral aE sessile. 
Spikelets oblong- ovoid, acute 50 RW eR ID rerio 
Rhizome long, creeping. Culms ascending, 2-8in. 
Leaves inyolute, =, in. broad. aes all Peas ea 
Spikelets oblong, acute : .. 3. P. distichum. 
1. P. serobiculatum, Linn. Mant. i. 29.—Rhizome short. Culms 
tufted, erect or decumbent at the base, usually sheathed through- 
out by the leaves, glabrous, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves linear or linear- 
lanceolate, acute or acuminate, +-4in. broad, glabrous or slightly 
hairy towards the base, flat or wrinkled; margins rough; ligule 
short, broad, membranous; sheaths rather lax. Spikes varying in 
number from 2 to 6, 1-2in. long, alternate towards the top of the 
culm, usually rather distant, spreading or erect; rhachis jin. 
broad, flat, margins ciliate. Spikelets in 2 or rarely 3-4 rows, im- 
bricate, sessile or very shortly pedicelled, sometimes geminate on 
a common pedicel, ovoid-orbicular, obtuse, glabrous. Empty 
glumes subequal, thin and membranous, with. a prominent midrib ; 
the outer one with a single marginal veiu on each side; the upper 
one with 2 marginal veins. Flowering glume similar in size and shape 
to the empty glumes, hard and coriaceous, brown, shining, minutely 
pitted. Palea coriaceous like the flowering glume, the margins pro- 
duced into membranous inflected auricles.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 
291; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 323; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 460; Buch. 
N.Z. Grasses, t. 10a. P. orbiculare, Forst. Prodr. n. 85; A. Rich. 
Fl. Now. Zel. 140; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 266; Raoul, Choiz, 39. 
NorryH Isuanp: Auckland—Lowland stations from the North Cape to the 
East Cape, not uncommon. 
An abundant plant in all warm countries outside America. 
2. P. Digitaria, Por. Hncycl. Suppl. iv. 316.—Rhizome long, 
branched, creeping and rooting. Culms erect or ascending, sheathed 
throughout by bs leaves, Bau 6-24 in. high. Leaves numer- 
ous, distichous, 2-8 in. long, 4-4in. broad, flat, glabrous or sparingly 
hairy towards tlie base; ligules short, membranous, truncate ; 
sheaths compressed, striate, margins pilose above. Spikes rather 
