Paspalum canarae

Paspalum canarae is a species of grass native to the Western Ghats region of India.^[3] It is also known as the canara paspalum.^[2]

Paspalum canarae
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Genus:	Paspalum
Species:	P. canarae
Binomial name
Paspalum canarae (Steud.) Veldkamp
Synonyms[2]
Panicum canarae Steud. Paspalum canarae fimbriatum (Bor) Veldkamp Paspalum compactum var. fimbriatum Bor Paspalum costatum Hochst. ex Steud., pro syn. Paspalum miliaria Müll.Hal.

Description

Paspalum canarae is an annual grass and is characterized by trailing stems, hairy nodes, and ovate, densely hairy leaves. It bears small flowers in 8–15 racemes, with spikelets usually paired at the base of the raceme. The upper glume is elliptic and hairless, measuring about 1 x 0.5 mm.^[2]

Range

Paspalum canarae is native to the Western Ghats; the report from Madhya Pradesh is considered doubtful.^[1][3]

Habitat & ecology

Paspalum canarae is terrestrial, and is common in moist areas during the monsoons. It is reported to grow in many moist and marshy habitats in open sunny grass dominated areas. The flowering period is August to October.^[3]

Taxonomy

Paspalum canarae contains the following subspecies:

• Paspalum canarae fimbriatum^[4]