846 GRAMINEH, [Paspalum. 
slender, 1-2in. long, usually 2 but sometimes 3 or even 4, the 
lateral ones sessile or nearly so; rhachis flat, margins scabrid. 
Spikelets in 2 rows, nearly sessile, imbricate and appressed to the 
rhachis, ovate-oblong, acute, flattened, pale-green. Empty glumes 
equal, acute, membranous, pubescent or glabrous; the lower one 
3-nerved ; the upper 5-nerved, sometimes an additional minute 
empty glume is present at the base of the spikelet. Flowering 
glume coriaceous, smooth, shining, faintly nerved. Palea smaller, 
coriaceous, margins inflexed but not auricled.—Stapf. in Fl. Capen. 
vii. 370. 
Norru Istanp: Auckland—Near Ahipara, 7.F.C.; Bay of Islands and 
Whangarei, Petrie! marshes by the lower Waikato, 7. #.C.; Coromandel, 
Petrie! 
Probably introduced into New Zealand, as in Australia, South Africa, 
India, and other countries, but the localities it affects give it the appearance of 
being indigenous. It is a common plant in many parts of America, from Vir- 
ginia southwards. It can be distinguished from P. distichum by its greater 
size, much broader flat leaves, and by the lateral spikes being sessile. 
3. P. distichum, Linn. Aman. Acad. v. 391.—Khizome long, 
branched, creeping and rooting. Culms numerous, ascending, 
sheathed throughout by the leaves, glabrous, 2-8in. high. Leaves 
numerous, distichous, 2-5 in. long by about ;4,in. broad, linear, acute, 
strict, spreading, usually involute; ligules short, truncate ; sheaths 
thin, pale, loose, bearded at the mouth. Spikes 2, both peduncled 
and jointed on the top of the culm, usually spreading, 1-1}in. 
long; rhachis narrower than the spikelets. Spikelets in two rows, 
sessile or nearly so, imbricate and appressed to the rhachis, oblong, 
acute or almost acuminate, flattened, glabrous, pale. Empty 
glumes equal, acute, thin and membranous, faintly 3—d-nerved. 
Flowering glume rather shorter than the empty glumes, cori- 
aceous, pale, very indistinctly nerved. Palea coriaceous like the 
flowering glume, margins slightly auricled.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 
i. 291; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 323; Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 460; Buch. 
N.Z. Grasses, t. 10B. 
Norte Isnanp: Auckland—Salt marshes from the North Cape to the Bay 
f Plenty and the Waikato River, abundant. 
Widely distributed in all warm countries. 
4. ISACHNE, R. Br. 
Perennial or rarely annual grasses. Culms tufted, or decum- 
bent or creeping at the base. Spikelets small or minute, loosely 
panicled, not at all or very obscurely articulate on the pedicels, 
2-flowered ; both flowers hermaphrodite, or the lower flower some- 
times male, and the upper flower sometimes female. Empty 
glumes 2, subequal, persistent or separately deciduous, convex, 
membranous, awnless. Flowering glumes 2, rather smaller than 
