Paspalum

Paspalum
Paspalum distichum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Supertribe:
Tribe:	Paspaleae
Subtribe:
Genus:	Paspalum L.
Type species
L.[1]
Synonyms[2]
Sabsab Adans. Cleachne Roll.-Germ. ex Rottb. Ceresia Pers. Reimaria Humb. & Bonpl. ex Flüggé Paspalanthium Desv. Anachyris Nees Maizilla Schltdl. Cymatochloa Schltdl. Dimorphostachys E.Fourn. Thrasyopsis Parodi

Water finger-grass, Paspalum vaginatum

Paspalum is a genus of plants in the grass family.^[3][4]

The group is widespread across much of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Commonly known as paspalum, bahiagrasses, crowngrasses or dallis grasses, many of the species are tall perennial New World grasses. They are warm-season C₄ grasses and are most diverse in subtropical and tropical regions.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

Paspalum scrobiculatum (koda, varuka, varuku, etc.) is a millet locally grown as food grain. Some species, such as bahiagrass (P. notatum) and , are grown for pasturage, especially with the perennial forage peanut (Arachis glabrata) as a companion crop. Bahiagrass has also some significance as a honey plant.

Water finger-grass (P. vaginatum) resembles bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), but has a higher salinity tolerance and can consume greywater. It is not infrequently used for arena and golf course turf in warmer coastal regions, such as Baja California, Florida, Peru, Texas and Venezuela. Dedicated paspalum cultivars such as 'Aloha Seashore' or 'Platinum TE' have been produced for such uses.

Paspalums are also food for caterpillars of lepidopterans such as the pasture day moth (Apina callisto), and those of the dark palm dart (Telicota ancilla) which feed on P. urvillei. Granivorous birds often eat paspalum seeds; the chestnut-breasted munia (Lonchura castaneothorax) readily feeds on the seeds of , for example.

The ergot is a sac fungus that grows on Paspalum, producing ergot alkaloids and the ; it causes "paspalum staggers" poisoning in cattle.

(P. quadrifarium) is considered a weed in Australia.^[13]

Minute Maid Park the home ballpark of the Houston Astros has Platinum TE Paspalum as its field surface.

Selected species[]

Formerly placed here[]

• Axonopus compressus (broad-leaved carpetgrass), as P. compressum, P. platycaule, P. platycaulon
• Axonopus fissifolius (narrow-leaved carpetgrass), as P. fissifolium
• Digitaria exilis (fonio), as P. exile

References[]

• Australian Weeds Committee (AWC) (2008): Noxious Weed List for Australian States and Territories. Version 18.00, September 2008. PDF fulltext

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