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Bahia Grass

Paspalum notatum Flüggé

Comments

provided by eFloras
This species is widely introduced in tropical and warm-temperate regions as a forage grass and also sometimes for erosion control.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 526, 527 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
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Flora of China @ eFloras.org
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Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
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eFloras.org
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Description

provided by eFloras
Perennial with stout, woody, many-noded rhizomes and stolons forming a mat. Culms 15–80 cm tall. Leaf sheaths keeled, compressed, glabrous; leaf blades broadly linear, flat or folded, stiffly spreading, 5–30 × 0.3–1 cm, glabrous, apex acuminate; ligule very short. Inflorescence of 2(–3) racemes at culm apex; racemes 4–9(–16) cm, recurved-ascending; spikelets single, in 2 row; rachis 1–1.8 mm wide, scabrous. Spikelets green, ovate to obovate, plumply plano-convex, 2.5–3.5 mm, smooth, shining, obtuse; upper glume cartilaginous, 3-veined, glabrous; lower lemma resembling upper glume but slightly shorter; upper lemma pale green, slightly shorter than spikelet, finely striate, obtuse. Fl. and fr. Sep. 2n = 40, 30.
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cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 526, 527 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
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eFloras

Habitat & Distribution

provided by eFloras
Cultivated. Fujian, Gansu, Hebei, Yunnan [native to tropical and subtropical America].
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cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 526, 527 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
original
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eFloras

Description

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Mat-forming, creeping perennial, up to 50 cm. The inflorescences are usually paired, occasionally 3.
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Paspalum notatum Flüggé Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=107110
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Mark Hyde
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Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
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Flora of Zimbabwe

Frequency

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Local
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Paspalum notatum Flüggé Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=107110
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Mark Hyde
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Bart Wursten
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Petra Ballings
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Flora of Zimbabwe

Worldwide distribution

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Native of S America.
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cc-by-nc
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Paspalum notatum Flüggé Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=107110
author
Mark Hyde
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Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
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Flora of Zimbabwe

Comprehensive Description

provided by North American Flora
Paspalum notatum Fliigge, Gram. Monog. 106. 1810
Stems tufted, up to 8 dm. tall, commonly less than 5 dm., glabrous, simple; leaf-sheaths usually ciliate, otherwise glabrous; blades up to 2.5 dm. long, commonly much shorter, 4^8 mm. wide, glabrous, or pubescent on the upper siu-face with short hairs; racemes conjugate, erect or ascending, up to 1 dm. long, usually shorter, the rachis about 1 mm. wide; spikelets singly disposed, 2.7-4 mm. long, 1.8-2.7 mm. wide, glabrous, oval, the first scale wanting, the second and third scales 3-5 -nerved, the fruiting scale minutely roughened with longitudinal rows of papillae.
Type locality : St. Thomas.
Distribution : Mexico to Costa Rica ; Jamaica and Cuba to Grenada ; also in tropical South America.
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bibliographic citation
George Valentine Nash. 1912. (POALES); POACEAE (pars). North American flora. vol 17(2). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
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Physical Description

provided by USDA PLANTS text
Perennials, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Rhizomes present, Rhizome elongate, creeping, stems distant, Stems trailing, spreading or prostrate, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems mat or turf forming, Stems terete, round in cross section, or polygonal, Stem internodes solid or spongy, Stem internodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence less than 1 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly basal, below middle of stem, Leaves mostly cauline, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly open, or loose, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous, Leaf sheath hairy, hispid or prickly, Leaf sheath hairy at summit, throat, or colla r, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blades mostly flat, Leaf blade margins folded, involute, or conduplicate, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Leaf blades more or less hairy, Leaf blades scabrous, roughened, or wrinkled, Ligule present, Ligule a fringe of hairs, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence a panicle with narrowly racemose or spicate branches, Inflorescence with 2-10 branches, Inflorescence branches 1-sided, Inflorescence branches paired or digitate at a single node, Inflorescence branches paired racemes, V-shaped, Rachis dilated, flat, central axis to which spikelets are attached, Rachis angular, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets dorsally compressed or terete, Spikelet less than 3 mm wide, Spikelets with 1 fertile floret, Spikelets with 2 florets, Spikelet with 1 fertile floret and 1-2 sterile florets, Sp ikelets solitary at rachis nodes, Spikelets all alike and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating below the glumes, Spikelets secund, in rows on one side of rachis, Rachilla or pedicel glabrous, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 1 clearly present, the other greatly reduced or absent, Glumes distinctly unequal, Glumes equal to or longer than adjacent lemma, Glume equal to or longer than spikelet, Glumes 3 nerved, Lemma similar in texture to glumes, Lemma 3 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma apex truncate, rounded, or obtuse, Lemma awnless, Lemma straight, Palea present, well developed, Palea shorter than lemma, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis, Caryopsis white, Caryopsis isodiametric, trigonous or globose, broadest at base or beaked.
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Dr. David Bogler
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Missouri Botanical Garden
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USDA NRCS NPDC
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USDA PLANTS text

Paspalum notatum

provided by wikipedia EN

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 containing multiple tiny spikelets, each about 2.8–3.5 millimetres (0.11–0.14 in) long.

This grass is low-growing and creeping with stolons and stout, scaly rhizomes. The stolons are pressed firmly to the ground and root freely from the internodes, forming a dense sod. The flat, tough-textured leaves are usually hairless, with blades 2–6 millimetres (0.079–0.236 in) wide. They are flat, folded, and inrolled, tapering to a fine point. The leaf bases at the terminus of each rhizome usually have a purplish hue. The stems reach 20–75 centimetres (7.9–29.5 in) tall.[1]

The terminal dual racemes are each attached to the top of a slender stem or with one slightly below the other. There is occasionally a third. The spikelets closely overlap in two rows. They are broad, rounded, smooth and shiny. Inside each spikelet is a tiny flower. The tiny, black, featherlike stigmas and black stamens can be seen dangling at the tips of the flowers.

Bahia grass is native to Mexico and South America, but has been naturalized elsewhere in North America and in other regions. It prefers sandy soils and is tolerant of shade. It is also fairly hardy, tolerating saline conditions and drought.[2]

This grass is used primarily as a forage. The nutritive value remains high when mature, but it is not very productive. It is also valued as an erosion-controlling soil stabilizer, as well as for its productivity, ease of establishment, and persistence. It makes a relatively low-maintenance turf as well, with its toleration for minimal maintenance, drought tolerance, and with less disease and insect damage than some of the other warm-season grasses.[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paspalum notatum.
Wikispecies has information related to Paspalum notatum.
  1. ^ James Howard Miller, Karl V. Miller (2005). Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses (illustrated ed.). University of Georgia Press. p. 242. ISBN 9780820327488.
  2. ^ Michael D. Casler, Ronny R. Duncan, ed. (2003). Turfgrass Biology, Genetics, and Breeding (illustrated ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 331. ISBN 9780471444107.
  3. ^ Doug Brede (2000). Turfgrass Maintenance Reduction Handbook: Sports, Lawns, and Golf (illustrated ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 69. ISBN 9781575041063.
  • Bahia grass. Allergy Advisor - Zing Solutions. 1998.
  • Gould, F. W. Common Texas Grasses: An Illustrated Guide. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas. 1978.

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Paspalum notatum: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

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 containing multiple tiny spikelets, each about 2.8–3.5 millimetres (0.11–0.14 in) long.

This grass is low-growing and creeping with stolons and stout, scaly rhizomes. The stolons are pressed firmly to the ground and root freely from the internodes, forming a dense sod. The flat, tough-textured leaves are usually hairless, with blades 2–6 millimetres (0.079–0.236 in) wide. They are flat, folded, and inrolled, tapering to a fine point. The leaf bases at the terminus of each rhizome usually have a purplish hue. The stems reach 20–75 centimetres (7.9–29.5 in) tall.

The terminal dual racemes are each attached to the top of a slender stem or with one slightly below the other. There is occasionally a third. The spikelets closely overlap in two rows. They are broad, rounded, smooth and shiny. Inside each spikelet is a tiny flower. The tiny, black, featherlike stigmas and black stamens can be seen dangling at the tips of the flowers.

Bahia grass is native to Mexico and South America, but has been naturalized elsewhere in North America and in other regions. It prefers sandy soils and is tolerant of shade. It is also fairly hardy, tolerating saline conditions and drought.

This grass is used primarily as a forage. The nutritive value remains high when mature, but it is not very productive. It is also valued as an erosion-controlling soil stabilizer, as well as for its productivity, ease of establishment, and persistence. It makes a relatively low-maintenance turf as well, with its toleration for minimal maintenance, drought tolerance, and with less disease and insect damage than some of the other warm-season grasses.

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