''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the

grass family Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns and ...

. The group is widespread across much of Asia, Africa,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, and the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

. 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 The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

and tropical regions. '' Paspalum scrobiculatum'' (''koda'', ''varuka'', ''varuku'', etc.) is a

millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most species generally referred to as millets belong to the tribe Paniceae, but some millets al ...

locally grown as food

grain A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit (caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legum ...

. Some species, such as

bahiagrass ''Paspalum notatum'', known commonly as bahiagrass, common bahia, and Pensacola bahia, is a tropical to subtropical perennial grass (family Poaceae). It is known for its prominent V-shaped inflorescence consisting of two spike-like racemes contai ...

(''P. notatum'') and '' P. nicorae'', are grown for pasturage, especially with the perennial forage peanut (''Arachis glabrata'') as a

companion crop Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximizing use of space, a ...

. Bahiagrass has also some significance as a honey plant. Water finger-grass (''P. vaginatum'') resembles bermudagrass (''Cynodon dactylon''), but has a higher

salinity Salinity () is the saltiness or amount of salt dissolved in a body of water, called saline water (see also soil salinity). It is usually measured in g/L or g/kg (grams of salt per liter/kilogram of water; the latter is dimensionless and equal ...

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

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...

s of

lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

ns such as the

pasture day moth The pasture day moth (''Apina callisto'') is a species in the moth family Noctuidae which is active during the day, as its common name implies, making it unlike most other noctuid species. It is found in most southern areas of Australia, ranging ...

(''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 The chestnut-breasted mannikin (''Lonchura castaneothorax''), also known as the chestnut-breasted munia or bully bird (in Australia), is a small brown-backed munia with a black face and greyish crown and nape. It has a broad ferruginous breast ba ...

(''Lonchura castaneothorax'') readily feeds on the seeds of '' P. longifolium'', for example. The

ergot Ergot ( ) or ergot fungi refers to a group of fungi of the genus ''Claviceps''. The most prominent member of this group is ''Claviceps purpurea'' ("rye ergot fungus"). This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that ca ...

Claviceps paspali Ergot ( ) or ergot fungi refers to a group of fungi of the genus ''Claviceps''. The most prominent member of this group is ''Claviceps purpurea'' ("rye ergot fungus"). This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that can ...

'' is a sac fungus that grows on ''Paspalum'', producing ergot alkaloids and the tremorgen paspalitrem; it causes "paspalum staggers" poisoning in cattle. Tussock paspalum (''P. quadrifarium'') is considered a weed in Australia.AWC (2008) Minute Maid Park the home ballpark of the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

has Platinum TE Paspalum as its field surface.

Selected species

* '' Paspalum azuayense'' * ''

Paspalum arundinaceum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the Poaceae, grass family. 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 ...

'' * ''

Paspalum bakeri ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum batianoffii'' * ''

Paspalum blodgettii ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum boscianum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum caespitosum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum ceresia ''Paspalum ceresia'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and ...

'' * '' Paspalum clavuliferum'' * '' Paspalum conjugatum'' P.J.Bergius – carabao grass, hilo grass * '' Paspalum convexum'' * ''

Paspalum decumbens ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum densum'' * '' Paspalum dilatatum'' – dallis grass * '' Paspalum dispar'' * '' Paspalum distichum'' * ''

Paspalum fasciculatum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum fimbriatum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum floridanum'' * '' Paspalum fluitans'' * ''

Paspalum geminatum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum longifolium ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum laeve'' Michx. – smooth paspalum * '' Paspalum laxum'' * ''

'' * ''

Paspalum longum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum macrophyllum'' * '' Paspalum mandiocanum '' * ''

Paspalum maritimum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum millegrana ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum minus'' * '' Paspalum molle'' * '' Paspalum nicorae'' * '' Paspalum notatum'' – bahiagrass, Pensacola bahiagrass * '' Paspalum orbiculare'' G.Forst. * '' Paspalum orbiculatum'' Poir. * '' Paspalum paniculatum'' L. * ''

Paspalum parviflorum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum paucispicatum'' * ''

Paspalum peckii ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum pleostachyum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 ...

'' * '' Paspalum plicatulum'' – brownseed paspalum * ''

Paspalum pulchellum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

Paspalum pubiflorum ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * '' Paspalum quadrifarium'' – tussock paspalum * ''

Paspalum repens ''Paspalum repens'', known as horsetail paspalum or water paspalum, is a species of grass native to South America, Central America, and North America. It is often called ''Paspalum fluitans'', though this name is treated as a synonym of ''P. repe ...

'' * ''

Paspalum rugulosum ''Paspalum rugulosum'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is found only in Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, whi ...

'' * ''

Paspalum rupestre ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 ...

'' * '' Paspalum schesslii'' * '' Paspalum scrobiculatum'' – koda millet, kodo millet, kodra millet, ''varuka'' ( Sanskrit), ''varuku'' ( Tamil) * ''

Paspalum secans ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 pere ...

'' * ''

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,Paspalum soboliferum ''Paspalum soboliferum'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is found only in Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, w ...

'' * '' Paspalum urvillei'' * '' Paspalum vaginatum'' Sw. (syn. ''P. distichum'', ''P. littorale'') – water finger-grass * '' Paspalum virgatum'' * ''

Paspalum wullschlaegelii ''Paspalum'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. 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 ...

Formerly placed here

* '' Axonopus compressus'' (broad-leaved carpetgrass), as ''P. compressum'', ''P. platycaule'', ''P. platycaulon'' * ''

Axonopus fissifolius ''Axonopus fissifolius'' is a grass species which is often used as permanent pasture Pasture (from the Latin ''pastus'', past participle of ''pascere'', "to feed") is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts ...

'' (narrow-leaved carpetgrass), as ''P. fissifolium'' * '' Digitaria exilis'' (fonio), as ''P. exile''

References

* (2008): Noxious Weed List for Australian States and Territories. Version 18.00, September 2008
PDF fulltext
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2333069 Poaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus