Species Detail Grasses

Plant - Russ Kleinman @http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Paspalum distichum - knotgrass Synonyms: Digitaria paspaloides, Paspalum distichum L. var. indutum, Paspalum paspaloides Other Common Names: seashore paspalum, salt jointgrass, water finger-grass, Thompson grass, ginger grass, eternity grass Plant Form: Grass Family: Poaceae


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Seedheads Russ Kleinman @http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora


	Grass Description - Glossary of Grass Terminology Origin: Native Season: Warm Habitat Description: Found in riparian areas in wet soils and sometimes floating in shallow water. Plant Communities:Riparian Elevation: 3500 - 6000 feet Similar Species: P. dilitatum General Description Desc: This is a spreading, extensively stoloniferous perennial that forms dense, extensive mats. Erect stems are 7 to 20 inches long and sometimes covered with short soft hairs. Stolons. Identification Notes: Perennial; extensive stolons; sheaths hairy; blades smooth; seedheads 2, rarely 1 or 3; spikelets 3 mm long; glumes smooth or sparsely hairy; first glume absent or vestigial. P. dilatatum taller; less stoloniferous; very hairy spikelets. Grass Type: Perennial mat or sod-forming Rhizomes: N Stolons: Y Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): Y Bushy (highly branched): N Height with Seedheads: 12 to 24 inches Seedhead Structure: Branched - fingerlike Seedhead Droops: N Flowering Period: Jun - Sep Flower Characteristics Number of Flowers per Spikelet: One-flowered Spikelets One-sided: Y Awns: Absent Three Awns: N Awns Bent: N Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedhead is a pair of branches in a V shape. There is sometimes a third branch. Awnless spikelets are tightly appressed in 2 rows along the spike, often with purple stigmas sticking out. Spikelet has 2 florets, the lower sterile and the upper bisexual. Vegetative Charcteristics Blade Hairy: Y Blade with White Margins: N Blade Cross section: Flat or involute Blade Notes: Leaf blades are flat, 2 to 6 inches long, 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, rolled upward on longitudinal edges. Blades may be smooth or sparsely hairy. Sheath Hairy: Y Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar: Y Ligules: Membranous Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area: N Forage Value: Knotgrass is grazed by many mammals and is a valuable food source for ducks.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailGrass.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer