Contains 32 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
PASPALUM Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 846, 855, 1359. 1759.
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TYPE: Paspalum dimidiatum Linnaeus, nom. illegit. (Panicum dissectum Linnaeus; Paspalum dissectum (Linnaeus) Linnaeus) Lectotypified by Nash, in Britton & A. Brown, Ell. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 1: 126. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paspalum acuminatum | BROOK CROWNGRASS | Not Native OBL (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum arundinaceum | THICK DITCH CROWNGRASS; TROPICAL PASPALUM | Not Native | ||
| Paspalum bifidum | PITCHFORK CROWNGRASS | Native FACW (NWPL) | ||
| Paspalum blodgettii | CORAL PASPALUM; BLODGETT'S CROWNGRASS | Native FAC (NWPL) | ||
| Paspalum boscianum | BULL CROWNGRASS | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum botterii | RUSTYSEED PASPALUM | Native | ||
| Paspalum caespitosum | BLUE CROWNGRASS | Native FAC (NWPL) | ||
| Paspalum conjugatum | SOUR PASPALUM; HILOGRASS | Native FAC (NWPL) AD (WAP) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum coryphaeum | EMPEROR CROWNGRASS | Not Native | ||
| Paspalum dilatatum | DALLISGRASS | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum dissectum | MUDBANK CROWNGRASS | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum distichum | KNOTGRASS | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum eglume | FLORIDA REIMARGRASS | Native OBL (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum fimbriatum | WINGED PASPALUM; PANAMA CROWNGRASS | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum floridanum | FLORIDA PASPALUM | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum laeve | FIELD PASPALUM | Native FACW (NWPL) T (WAP) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum laxum | COCONUT PASPALUM | Native | ||
| Paspalum malacophyllum | RIBBED PASPALUM | Not Native | ||
| Paspalum minus | MATTED PASPALUM | Not Native | ||
| Paspalum monostachyum | GULFDUNE PASPALUM | Native FACW (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum nicorae | BRUNSWICKGRASS | Not Native | ||
| Paspalum notatum var. notatum | BAHIAGRASS | Not Native FACU (NWPL) U (WAP) | ||
| Paspalum notatum var. saurae | BAHIAGRASS | Not Native FACU (NWPL) U (WAP) | ||
| Paspalum paniculatum | ARROCILLO | Not Native FAC (NWPL) | ||
| Paspalum plicatulum | BROWNSEED PASPALUM | Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum praecox | EARLY PASPALUM | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum pubiflorum | HAIRYSEED PASPALUM | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum repens | WATER PASPALUM | Native OBL (NWPL) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum setaceum | THIN PASPALUM | Native FAC (NWPL) AD (WAP) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum urvillei | VASEYGRASS | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Paspalum vaginatum | SEASHORE PASPALUM | Native OBL (NWPL) | ||
| Paspalum virgatum | TALQUEZEL | Not Native |
Identification Key
1. Spikelets solitary (1 pedicel)
1. Spikelets paired (both fertile), or sometimes 1 fertile spikelet paired with a naked pedicel or a sterile spikelet
2
2. Spikelets glabrous (generally green, greenish, to stramineous, or glaucous and spikelet pairs not overlapping on a narrow rachis)
2. Spikelets pubescent, or glabrous and distinctly brown, olive to dark brown (at least partly so on some spikelets), or glabrous and glaucous (with a rachis >0.8 mm wide and overlapping spikelet pairs)
1. (Key A) Inflorescence branches not paired at the terminus, of 1-70 racemosely arranged branches
2
1. Inflorescence with a pair of branches at the tip arising from the same point or nearly so (sometimes the branches separated by 1 cm), occasionally with 1(-5) branches below
5
2. Inflorescence axis 0.6-1.3 mm wide, not winged or scarcely so, the spikelets exposed
2. Inflorescence axis (including wings) 1-4 mm wide, winged and mostly or wholly concealing or hooded over the spikelets
2
3. Branches 7-70, disarticulating at maturity, the axes extending beyond the distal spikelets; spikelets 1-1.9 mm long
3. Branches (1)2-6, persistent, terminating in a spikelet
4
4. Spikelets 3.2-4 mm long; upper lemmas with a few short hairs at the apex
4. Spikelets 1.7-2.1 mm long; upper lemmas glabrous
5. Spikelets 3.8-5.2 mm long; lower and upper glume absent; upper lemma and palea membranous, not inrolled; stamens 1-2
5. Spikelets 1.3-4.5 mm long; lower glume usually absent, upper glume present; upper lemma and palea coriaceous-indurate, the lemma margins usually inrolled; stamens 3
6
6. Upper glume pubescent (lower glume usually absent or to 1 mm long)
7
6. Upper glume glabrous (lower glume usually absent or to 1 mm long)
8
7. Spikelets 1.3-1.9 mm long; upper glumes pilose along the margins
7. Spikelets 2.4-3.2 mm long; upper glumes sparsely short pubescent on the abaxial surface
8. Spikelets 1.9-2.3 mm long
8. Spikelets 2.5-4.5 mm long
9
9. Ligules 1-2 mm long; spikelets 3-4.5 mm long, 1.1-2 mm wide; upper glume and lower lemma 3-veined; of coastal habitats
9. Ligules 0.2-0.5 mm long; spikelets 2.5-4 mm long, 2-2.8 mm wide; upper glume and lower lemma 5-veined; widely distributed
10
10. Leaf blades flat, (2)4-10 mm wide; spikelet 3.2-4 mm long, (2)2.4-2.8 mm wide
10. Leaf blades folded, 2-4 mm wide; spikelet 2.5-3.2 mm long, 2-2.2 mm wide
1. (Key B) Leaf blades usually involute, 0.2-2(2.8) mm wide; inflorescence branches 1(3), 5-23 cm long
1. Leaf blades flat or folded, 1.9-18 mm wide; inflorescence branches (1)2-15(28), 0.8-18 cm long
2
2. Inflorescence branches 8-25; glumes absent; lower lemma ribbed over the veins
2. Inflorescence branches (1)2-15(28); upper glume present (lower glume usually absent); lower lemma not ribbed over the veins
3
3. Ligules 0.2-0.5 mm long; spikelets 1.3-2.6 mm long
4
3. Ligules 1-4 mm long; spikelets 2-4.1 mm long
5
4. Inflorescence terminal; spikelets 1.3-2 mm long; upper glumes and lower lemmas 5-veined
4. Inflorescence both terminal and axillary, the axillary ones partially or completely enclosed by the subtending leaf sheath; spikelets 1.4-2.6 mm long; upper glumes and lower lemmas 3-veined
5. Plant often glaucous; inflorescence branch axis 0.2-0.8 mm wide; spikelet pairs distant, not overlapping; lower glume often present, 0.1-0.3 mm long
5. Plant not glaucous, or sparingly so; inflorescence branch axis 0.3-2 mm wide, sometimes winged; spikelet pairs overlapping adjacent ones; lower glume absent (rarely present)
6
6. Inflorescence branches (0.8)2-8(10) cm long; upper glume 3-veined
7
6. Inflorescence branches 4-19 cm long; upper glume 5-veined
8
7. Plants shortly rhizomatous; leaf blades conduplicate to flat; spikelets 2-2.8 mm wide
7. Plants decumbent, rooting at the lower nodes, not rhizomatous; leaf blades flat; spikelets 1.5-2 mm wide
8. Inflorescence branches 3-25; spikelets 2.2-2.5 mm long, 1-1.3 mm wide
8. Inflorescence branches (1)3-6; spikelets turgid, 2.9-4.1 mm long, 1.9-3.1 mm wide
1. (Key C) Upper glumes and lower lemma margins lacerate-winged
1. Upper glumes and lower lemma margins not winged
2
2. Spikelets 1-1.3 mm long
3
2. Spikelets 1.3-4.1 mm long
4
3. Inflorescence branches 2-6; spikelets appressed to the branch axes, 0.7-0.9 mm wide, stipitate-glandular
3. Inflorescence branches 18-50; spikelets diverging from the branch axes, 0.9-1.1 mm wide, pubescent
4. Upper glume and lower lemma margins pilose, the hairs 0.5-1 mm long
5
4. Upper glume and lower lemma margins glabrous to short-pubescent, the hairs
6
5. Inflorescence branches 2-7; spikelets 2.3-4 mm long, 1.7-2.5 mm wide; upper glume and lower lemma 5- or 7-veined
5. Inflorescence branches (4)10-20(30); spikelets 1.8-2.8 mm long, 1.1-1.5 mm wide; upper glume and lower lemma 3-veined
6. Spikelets distinctly brown, olive to dark brown (at least partly so on some spikelets), or glaucous
7
6. Spikelets green, greenish, to stramineous, generally not glaucous
11
7. Annual; inflorescence branch axis 0.7-2.3 mm wide and broadly winged, the wings about as wide as or wider than the central vein; spikelets 2-2.2 mm long, glabrous or sparingly pubescent towards the base
7. Perennial; inflorescence branch axis 0.5-1.7 mm wide, narrowly winged, the wings narrower than the central vein; spikelets 2-3.2 mm long, pubescent, sometimes glabrous
8
8. Inflorescence branches 10-20, the branch axis 1-1.7 mm wide; spikelets 1.8-2.4 mm wide
8. Inflorescence branches 2-13, the branch axis 0.5-1(1.2) mm wide; spikelets 1.1-2.2 mm wide
9
9. Leaf blades 7-18 mm wide; spikelets 1.1-1.8 mm wide
9. Leaf blades 2.5-5 mm wide; spikelets 1.4-2.2 mm wide
10
10. Rhizomes 5-25 cm long; spikelets 2.3-2.7 mm long, 1.4-1.8 mm wide
10. Rhizomes <5 cm long, often indistinct; spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, 1.5-2.2 mm wide
11. Inflorescence branches (6)15-44
12
11. Inflorescence branches 1-7(10)
13
12. Inflorescence branches spreading to reflexed (rarely ascending), the branch axis 0.3-0.4 mm wide; leaf blades 10-23 mm wide
12. Inflorescence branches erect to ascending, the branch axis 0.5-0.6 mm wide; leaf blades 4.9-6.1 mm wide
13. Lower glume present, 0.2-0.5(1.8) mm long
13. Lower glume absent
14
14. Ligules 0.2-0.5 mm long; inflorescence both terminal and axillary, the axillary ones partially or completely enclosed by the subtending leaf sheath; spikelets 1.4-2.6 mm long
14. Ligules 0.2-3.2 mm long; inflorescence terminal; spikelets 1.3-3.6 mm long
15
15. Spikelets 2.8-3.6 mm long
15. Spikelets 1.3-2.2 mm long
16
16. Culms 20-60 cm tall; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm long; leaf blades flat; spikelets 1.3-2 mm long, 0.7-1 mm wide
16. Culms 80-110 cm tall; ligules 1-2.9 mm long; leaf blades mostly involute; spikelets 1.6-2.2 mm long, 1.1-1.3 mm wide
1. (Key to P. setaceum varieties) Leaf blade surfaces glabrous to glabrate, sometimes ciliate on the margins; lower lemmas usually without a conspicuous midvein (sometimes conspicuous in var. rigidifolium)
2
1. Leaf blade surfaces and margins hirsute or ciliate
5
2. Leaf blades 2.4-6.1 mm wide, stiff; spikelets 2-2.6 mm long
2. Leaf blades 3-18 mm wide, lax to somewhat stiff (if somewhat stiff, >6 mm wide); spikelets 1.4-2.4 mm long
3
3. Leaves mostly basal, the blades recurved, yellowish-green; spikelets 1.4-1.8 mm long, usually glabrous, sometimes stipitate-glandular
3. Leaves basal and cauline, the blades straight, yellowish green, dark green, to purplish; spikelets 1.7-2.4 mm long, pubescent, occasionally glabrous
4
4. Leaf blades dark green to purplish; lower lemma with conspicuous midveins
4. Leaf blades yellowish-green to dark green; lower lemmas without evident midveins
5. Plants widely spreading to prostrate
5. Plants erect to spreading
6
6. Spikelets 1.8-2.5 mm long, usually glabrous, light green to green; lower lemma usually with conspicuous midveins
6. Spikelets 1.4-2.4 mm long, usually pubescent, pale yellow to light green or purple-spotted; lower lemma usually without conspicuous midveins
7
7. Leaves mostly basal, the blades grayish green, hirsute; spikelets often purple-spotted
7. Leaves basal and cauline, the blades yellowish green, dark green, or grayish green, glabrate to hirsute; spikelets not purple-spotted
8
8. Leaves grayish green, the blades 1.5-7 mm wide, hirsute
8. Leaves yellowish green to dark green, the blades 3.3-13.5 mm wide, glabrate to hirsute
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anachyris | Anachyris C. Nees von Esenbeck, Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 2: 103. 1850. | TYPE: Anachyris paspaloides C. Nees von Esenbeck | |
| Ceresia | Ceresia Persoon, Syn. Pl. 1: 85. 1805. | TYPE: Ceresia elegans Persoon | |
| Cymatochloa | Cymatochloa Schlechtendal, Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 12: 817, 821. 1854. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Digitaria | Digitaria Heister ex Fabricius, Enum. 207. 1759, nom. rej. vs. Digitaria Haller 1768. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Dimorphostachys | Dimorphostachys E. Fournier, Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Hebd. Seances 80: 441. 1875. | TYPE: Dimorphostachys monostachya (Kunth) E. Fournier (Panicum monostachyum Kunth) | |
| Maizilla | Maizilla Schlechtendal, Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 8: 601. 1850. | TYPE: Maizilla stolonifera (Bosc) Schlechtendal, nom. illegit. (Paspalum stoloniferum Bosc, nom. illegit.; Paspalum racemosum Lamarck) = Paspalanthium Desvaux 1831. | |
| Paspalanthium | Paspalanthium Desvaux, Opusc. Sci. Phys. Nat. 59. 1831. | TYPE: Paspalanthium stoloniferum Desvaux, nom. illegit. (Paspalum racemosum Lamarck) | |
| Reimaria | Reimaria Humboldt & Bonpland ex Fluegge, Gram. Monogr., Paspalum 213. 1810. | TYPE: Reimaria candida Humboldt & Bonpland ex Fluegge Lectotypified by Hitchcock, U.S.D.A. Bull. (1915-1923) 772. 227. 1920. | |
| Reimarochloa | Reimarochloa Hitchcock, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 12: 198. 1909. | TYPE: Reimarochloa acuta (Flüggé) Hitchcock 1909. (Reimaria acuta Flüggé 1810.) | |
| Sabsab | Sabsab Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 31, 599. 1763. | TYPE: = Paspalum Linnaeus 1759. |