Water Couch - introduced (*Paspalum distichum)

Native to many tropical and sub-tropical countries. Believed to be introduced in Australia. Perennial. C4.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

The flowers are on two erect arms from the top of the stalk

Identification:

• the 1st glume is absent or very short
• the 2nd glume is about equal to lemma length
• the spikelets have a fertile and a sterile lemma
• the leaves are flat or folded
• the ligule is 1mm long, and truncated (squared off).

It grows in wet places e.g. drainage channels, swamps etc. The damp habitat, the (usually) two terminal arms, the close-packed spikelets, and the black stigmas and anthers are distinctive.

It is an environmental weed.

distichus: having two rows.

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