Taxon: Paspalum scrobiculatum L.

Summary

Genus:

Paspalum

Family:

Poaceae (alt. Gramineae)

Subfamily:

Panicoideae

Tribe:

Paspaleae

Subtribe:

Paspalinae

Nomen number:

26917

Place of publication:

Mant. pl. 1:29. 1767

Protologue link:

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44260844

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

04/07/1993 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

355 (336 active, 298 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Paspalum scrobiculatum L. var. bispicatum Hack. ex Merr. (2 active accession[s])
Paspalum scrobiculatum L. var. horneri (Henrard) de Koning & Sosef (0 active accession[s])
Paspalum scrobiculatum L. var. lanceolatum de Koning & Sosef (0 active accession[s])
Paspalum scrobiculatum L. var. scrobiculatum (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Paspalum orbiculare G. Forst.

Invalid Designation(s)
Paspalum coloratum Rich. ex Döll

Images (2 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Plants of southern Africa: an online checklist.
University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Bor, N. L. 1960. The grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India, and Pakistan.
CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope
Clayton, W. D. 1974. The Paspalum scrobiculatum complex in tropical Africa. Kew Bull. 29:101-105.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1966. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials. 7:270-272.
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
de Koning, R. & M. S. M. Sosef. 1985. The Malesian species of Paspalum L. (Gramineae). Blumea 30:279-318. Note: recognizes five varieties: auriculatum, bispicatum, horneri, lanceolatum and scrobiculatum
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Gibbs-Russell, G. E. et al. 1990. Grasses of southern Africa. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa vol. 58
Hariprasanna, K. 2017. Chapter 8. Kodo millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum L. In: Patil, J. V., Millets and sorghum: biology and genetic improvement 199-225.
Holm, L. et al. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds
Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Koyama, T. 1987. Grasses of Japan and its neighboring regions
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Plant Protection and Quarantine Office. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Federal noxious weed list (on-line resource).
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Randall, R. P. 2007. The introduced flora of Australia and its weed status.
Ravikesavan, R. et al. 2023. Chapter 11. Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.). In: Farooq, M. & K. H. M. Siddique, Neglected and underutilized crops: Future smart food 279-304. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-323-90537-4.00019-3. Note: this review recognized Paspalum scrobiculatum as an underutilized C4 crop; attributes its origin to "Paspalum sanguinale Lam." (a homotypic synonym of Digitaria sanguinalis)
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Rua, G. H. et al. 2010. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus Paspalum (Poaceae) based on cpDNA and morphology. Pl. Syst. Evol. 288:227-243. DOI: 10.1007/s00606-010-0327-9.
't Mannetje, L. & R. M. Jones, eds. 1992. Forages. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 4:185.
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Wagner, W. L. et al. Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (on-line resource).
Wet, J. M. J. de et al. 1983. Diversity in Kodo Millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum. Econ. Bot. 37:159-163.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Zon, A. P. M. van der. 1992. Graminées du Cameroun
1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	creeping paspalum	1	Gibbs-Russell, G. E. et al. 1990. Grasses of southern Africa. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa vol. 58
English	ditch millet	1	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
English	Indian paspalum	1	CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope
English	kodo millet	1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	scrobic paspalum	1	Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
English	water couch	1	1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
German	Kodohirse	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
India (Hindi)	kodo	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
India (Hindi)	kodra	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Japanese Rōmaji	suzume-no-kobie	2	Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.).
Spanish	mijo koda	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedish	koda-hirs	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chinese	ya jie cao	2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Kenya			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Uganda			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Angola
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Malawi
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Mozambique
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zambia
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zimbabwe
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Botswana			Plants of southern Africa: an online checklist.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Eswatini
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Namibia			Plants of southern Africa: an online checklist.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa			Plants of southern Africa: an online checklist.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Benin
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Burkina Faso
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Côte D'Ivoire
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Gambia
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Ghana
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Guinea
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Liberia
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Mali
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Mauritania
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Nigeria
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Senegal
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Sierra Leone
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Togo
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Cameroon			Zon, A. P. M. van der. 1992. Graminées du Cameroun
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Mauritius
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Reunion
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Fujian Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangdong Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guizhou Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hainan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Jiangsu Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Jiangxi Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Sichuan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Yunnan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Zhejiang Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Sri Lanka			Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Indochina
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Philippines
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	New South Wales
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Northern Territory
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Queensland
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Western Australia
1	Native	Pacific	North-Central Pacific	United States	Hawaii		Wagner, W. L. et al. Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (on-line resource).
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India			Wet, J. M. J. de et al. 1983. Diversity in Kodo Millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum. Econ. Bot. 37:159-163.
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hainan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Yunnan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Ryukyu Islands		Koyama, T. 1987. Grasses of Japan and its neighboring regions
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Taiwan			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India			Wet, J. M. J. de et al. 1983. Diversity in Kodo Millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum. Econ. Bot. 37:159-163.
4	Naturalized	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Indochina			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
4	Naturalized	Northern America		United States		s.e.	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.

Native
Africa

EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
WEST-CENTRAL TROPICAL AFRICA: Cameroon
WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Mauritius, Reunion

Asia-Temperate

CHINA: China [Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Hainan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng]

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
INDO-CHINA: Indochina, Myanmar, Thailand
MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia [New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory]

Pacific

NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]

Cultivated
Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India

Naturalized
Asia-Temperate

CHINA: China [Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Hainan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng]
EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Ryukyu Islands], Taiwan

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India
INDO-CHINA: Indochina

Northern America

REGION: United States (s.e.)

Reference(s)

Plants of southern Africa: an online checklist.
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Koyama, T. 1987. Grasses of Japan and its neighboring regions
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Wagner, W. L. et al. Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (on-line resource).
Wet, J. M. J. de et al. 1983. Diversity in Kodo Millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum. Econ. Bot. 37:159-163.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Zon, A. P. M. van der. 1992. Graminées du Cameroun

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Animal food	fodder		Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1966. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials. 7:270-272.
Animal food	forage		't Mannetje, L. & R. M. Jones, eds. 1992. Forages. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 4:185.
Human food	cereal		Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1966. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials. 7:270-272.
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		't Mannetje, L. & R. M. Jones, eds. 1992. Forages. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 4:185.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Gibbs-Russell, G. E. et al. 1990. Grasses of southern Africa. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa vol. 58
Weed	seed contaminant	potential	CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=26917. Accessed 15 April 2026.