Meded. Rijks Herb. 61: 8 (1930).- Type: Haenke s.n., Philippines (holo- PR).
Paspalum fuscescens Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1: 213 (1830).
Regional litterature: FWTA:453 (1972); Ghana grasses: 135 (1977); FTEA: 634 (1982); Gram. Cameroun: 318, fig. 67 (1992); Poac. CI: 438, fig. (1995); Poac. Niger: 453, fig. (1999).
Description:
* Annual, prostate creeping, stoloniferous, rooting and branching from the nodes, with geniculate or ascending branching weak culms rising to about 0.2 m. Leaves short linear to lanceolate, 1-4 cm long and 2-3 mm broad, flat and glabrous with slightly scabrid margins; ligule small truncate pale membrane; sheath glabrous.
* Inflorescence composed of 2-3 (- 5) fairly short racemes of 1-7 cm long; rhachis broadly winged with rounded midrib. Spikelets in twos or threes. Pedicels unequal.
* Spikelets elliptic, glabrous, 1.2-1.6 mm long. Lower glume absent or obscure; upper glume elliptic, acute, as long as spikelet, 5 -veined with 3 central nerves, glabrous. Lower lemma elliptic, acute, as long as spikelet, 7 -veined, glabrous; upper lemma elliptic, 1.2-1.6 mm long, cartilaginous, pallid or light brown, tip protruding beyond lower lemma.
Distribution West Africa: Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon.
Distribution world-wide: Gabon, Tanzania, Asia, introduced in S America.