Paspalum conjugatum P.J.Bergius

Code

Growth form

Biological cycle

Habitat

Mayotte: Paspalum conjugatum flowers from October to May and fruits from November to June.

Characters to distinguish several Paspalum species
 

Paspalum conjugatum is a plant of open areas in forestry region, common along the edge of the slopes and drainage ditches, in fallow and marshy places.

Comoros: Common species.
Ivory Coast: Species mainly present in the forest zone and the coastal area but which is frequent in the area of Guinean savannas. It is common on forest edges, clearings, edges of tracks, drainage ditches, fallows.
French Guiana: Common species in orchards, especially in citrus orchards with permanent plant cover.
Madagascar: Species frequent in the whole area with warm and humid climate and rises in the Highlands up to 1200 m altitude. It is common along the roads, in forest edge, on loamy alluvium.
Mauritius: This species grows in very humid places on the island, at forest edges, roadsides and occasionally in the sugar cane fields.
Mayotte: Paspalum conjugatum is a fairly common cryptogenic species in freshwater, brackish and even salty wetlands, natural or secondarized. It is found in all wetlands.
Reunion: Species rare in Reunion.
Seychelles: Common species.
West Indies: Paspalum conjugatum is an indigenous species. It grows in areas with high rainfall or on moist soils. It is relatively shade tolerant.

Local harmfulness

Comoros: Paspalum conjugatum is a noxious weed.
Ivory Coast: It sometimes forms dense stands, almost monospecific.
French Guiana: Locally abundant weed in fruit crops.
Madagascar: Common weed in perennial crops (coffee, banana) where it forms dense carpets and ras, eliminating other species.
Mauritius: It can seriously compete with the crop when it is present and well established in the sugar cane plots.
Mayotte: Paspalum conjugatum is a common weed present in 9 % of cultivated plots. It is mainly present in fruit and pineapple crops. It is mainly present in the north of the island but it is also found in the center of the island.
Reunion: Species not found in cultivation.
Seychelles: Common but not harmful weed.
West Indies: Paspalum conjugatum is particularly invasive in vegetable and food crops. It can be selected and controlled through mechanical mowing practices. It maintains a dense vegetation cover tolerant to trampling and machine traffic. Some banana growers select it as a cover crop between the rows of banana trees. However, care must be taken to manage it properly to avoid any competition with the associated crop.

Fodder: Paspalum conjugatum is an excellent forage plant, very resistant to grazing and can produce hay of very good quality.
Medicinal: The cooked leaves are used in the treatment of heart diseases. The decoction is used as a compress to treat bruises.
Other: Paspalum conjugatum can have high concentrations of heavy metals and thus be used to clean up polluted industrial areas.

Images d'herbiers ReCOLNAT : https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Paspalum%2520conjugatum