Paspalum setaceum

Paspalum setaceum is a species of grass known by several common names, including thin paspalum. It is native to the Americas, where it can be found in the eastern and central United States, Ontario in Canada,[1] Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.[2] It can be found in other areas of the world as an introduced, and often invasive, species, including many Pacific Islands.[3] It is a weed of lawns[3] and turf.[4]

Paspalum setaceum
growing as a weed on Midway Atoll

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Paspalum
Species:
P. setaceum
Binomial name
Paspalum setaceum
Michx.

This grass is a perennial with erect or prostrate stems that can exceed one meter in length. The flat leaf blades are hairless to slightly hairy. They vary in color. The panicle has up to 6 branches up to 17 centimeters long lined with small oval to rounded spikelets. There are several varieties of this species which can be distinguished in part by color.[1] Some authors do not recognize varieties.[5]

Varieties include:[1]

  • Paspalum setaceum var. ciliatifolium (fringe-leaf paspalum)[2] - dark green or purplish leaf blades. Widespread.[1] Grows as a weed in the Pacific Islands.[3]
  • Paspalum setaceum var. longepedunculatum (barestem paspalum)[1] - yellow-green leaf blades
  • Paspalum setaceum var. muhlenbergii (hurrahgrass)[1] - North America
  • Paspalum setaceum var. psammophilum (sand paspalum,[1] beadgrass, slender beadgrass, tufted beard-grass[6]) - hairy leaf blades. East Coast of the United States.
  • Paspalum setaceum var. setaceum (thin paspalum)[2] - hairy gray-green leaf blades
  • Paspalum setaceum var. stramineum (yellow sand paspalum)[2] - yellow-green to dark green leaf blades
  • Paspalum setaceum var. villosissimum (hairy paspalum)[1] - gray-green leaf blades

References
  1. Paspalum setaceum. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Grass Manual Treatment.
  2. "Paspalum setaceum". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  3. Paspalum setaceum. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
  4. Paspalum setaceum. NC State University TurfFiles.
  5. Paspalum setaceum. USDA NRCS Plant Fact Sheet.
  6. Paspalum setaceum. USDA Plants Profile.
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