Perennial from a short rootstock. Culms robust, up to 2 m tall, glabrous. Leaf sheaths densely hispid, long hairs at the mouth; leaf blades linear, 15–50 × 0.5–1.5 cm, glabrous or pilose at the base, apex attenuate; ligule 3–5 mm. Inflorescence axis 10–30 cm; racemes 10–25, 8–15 cm, narrowly ascending or suberect; spikelets paired; rachis ca. 0.5 mm wide. Spikelets light green or purplish, ovate, 2–3 mm, sharply acute; upper glume membranous, 3-veined with laterals marginal, appressed-pubescent on back, margins densely fringed with long white hairs; lower lemma similar but glabrous on back; upper lemma elliptic, striate, obtuse. Fl. and fr. May–Oct. 2n = 40, 60.

This is a native of South America related to Paspalum dilatatum and likewise introduced widely in the tropics as a forage grass and weed.

Roadsides, waste places, introduced. Fujian, Hong Kong, Taiwan [native to South America].