Paspalum vaginatum Sw.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Stoloniferous perennial, extensively creeping; culms 8–60 cm. high.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades 2.5–15 cm. long, 3–8 mm. wide, stiffly ascending.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of 2(–5) conjugate racemes, each raceme 1.5–7.5 cm. long, the spikelets borne singly in 2 rows on a winged rhachis 1–2 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly ovate-elliptic, 3–4.5 mm. long, markedly flattened, usually pale brownish green; lower glume very rarely present as a tiny scale; upper glume and lower lemma as long as the spikelet, thinly papery, glabrous, the midnerve commonly suppressed; upper lemma smooth, pallid at maturity.

Habitat

Coastal salt marshes, but sometimes also in inland marshes; 0–1000 m.

Distribution

throughout the tropics, extending into subtropical regions K4 K7 P T3 T6 T8 Z

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology General Habit

Creeping stoloniferous perennial.

Morphology Culms

Culms 8–60 cm. high.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes paired (rarely up to 5), each 1.5–7.5 cm. long, the spikelets borne singly in 2 rows on a rhachis 1–2 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 3–4.5 mm. long, narrowly ovate-elliptic, markedly flattened, usually pale brownish green.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume very rarely present as a tiny scale. Superior glume thinly papery, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Inferior lemma thinly papery. Superior lemma pallid at maturity.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 500 m.; Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Pacífico.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Conservation

No Evaluada

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

A stoloniferous creeping grass 30–60 cm. high

Ecology

Seashores, near the beach or on tidal flats.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 8-60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2.5-15 cm long; 3-8 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 2(-5); paired, or digitate; unilateral; 1.5-7.5 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1-2 mm wide. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; plano-convex; acute; 3-4.5 mm long; falling entire.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; plano-convex; acute; 3-4.5 mm long; falling entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes both absent or obscure, or two (rarely); reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume when present ovate; 0.1-0.2 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 2-3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 2-3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

Distribution

Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, northwestern, and north-central. North America: south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Caribbean, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–500 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Atlántico, Magdalena, San Andrés y Providencia, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: shrubland.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/177401/145841789

Conservation

LC - least concern

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Extensively creeping perennial with horizontal rhizomes and long leafy stolons, often forming large colonies.

Morphology Culms

Flowering culms 8–60 cm tall; leaf-blades 1.5–15 cm long, 3–8 mm wide, glabrous, flat or folded with involute margins; ligule very short, truncate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence usually a pair of racemes at apex of culm; racemes 1–7.5 cm long; spikelets 3–4.5 mm long, pale, glabrous.

Distribution

Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac. Pantropical, extending along seacoasts into warm-temperate areas; common in the West Indies.

Recognition

The closely related Paspalum distichum L., which may also occur in the Cayman Islands, can be distinguished by the appressed-pubescent second glume and lemma of the lower floret, and by hispid pubescence on the lower culm-nodes. This species is less salt-tolerant than P. vaginatum.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident