356 Species of Genus Paspalum

Paspalum: A Deep Dive with Ferb Vu

The world of grasses is vast and varied, a testament to nature’s ingenuity. Among these verdant wonders, the genus Paspalum holds a special place in my heart. As a passionate botanist, I, Ferb Vu, am thrilled to share my insights into this fascinating group of plants. Join me as we explore the unique characteristics, diverse species, and ecological significance of Paspalum.

What is Paspalum?

Paspalum is a large genus of grasses belonging to the family Poaceae. These plants are typically found in warm temperate and tropical regions around the globe. They exhibit a remarkable diversity in form, ranging from delicate creeping species to robust, upright perennials. The defining characteristic of Paspalum lies in its unique inflorescence, which typically consists of two or more spike-like racemes bearing tiny, paired spikelets.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Paspalum boasts a staggering number of species, estimated 356. This incredible diversity is a testament to the adaptability of these grasses, which have successfully colonized a wide range of habitats. From the lush pastures of South America to the sandy shores of coastal regions, Paspalum species can be found thriving in various environments.

1. Paspalum aberrans (Döll) Morrone & Zuloaga
2. Paspalum achlysophilum (Soderstr.) S.Denham
3. Paspalum acuminatum Raddi
4. Paspalum acutifolium León
5. Paspalum acutum Chase
6. Paspalum adoperiens (E.Fourn.) Chase
7. Paspalum affine Steud.
8. Paspalum albidulum Henrard
9. Paspalum alcalinum Mez
10. Paspalum almum Chase
11. Paspalum alterniflorum A.Rich.
12. Paspalum altsonii Chase
13. Paspalum ammodes Trin.
14. Paspalum amphicarpum Ekman
15. Paspalum anderssonii Mez
16. Paspalum apiculatum Döll
17. Paspalum approximatum Döll
18. Paspalum arenarium Schrad.
19. Paspalum arsenei Chase
20. Paspalum arundinaceum Poir.
21. Paspalum arundinellum Mez
22. Paspalum aspidiotes Trin.
23. Paspalum atabapense Davidse & Zuloaga
24. Paspalum atratum Swallen
25. Paspalum auricomum (A.G.Burm.) S.Denham
26. Paspalum axillare Swallen
27. Paspalum azuayense Sohns
28. Paspalum bakeri Hack.
29. Paspalum barbinode Hack.
30. Paspalum barclayi Chase
31. Paspalum batianoffii B.K.Simon
32. Paspalum bertonii Hack.
33. Paspalum biaristatum Filg. & Davidse
34. Paspalum bifidifolium Soderstr.
35. Paspalum bifidum (Bertol.) Nash
36. Paspalum blodgettii Chapm.
37. Paspalum bonairense Henrard
38. Paspalum bonplandianum Flüggé
39. Paspalum botterii (E.Fourn.) Chase
40. Paspalum brachytrichum Hack.
41. Paspalum breve Chase
42. Paspalum buchtienii Hack.
43. Paspalum burchellii Munro ex Oliv.
44. Paspalum burmanii Filg., Morrone & Zuloaga
45. Paspalum cachimboense Davidse, Morrone, Zuloaga
46. Paspalum caespitosum Flüggé
47. Paspalum campinarum Filg. & Davidse
48. Paspalum campylostachyum (Hack.) S.Denham
49. Paspalum canarae (Steud.) Veldkamp
50. Paspalum candidum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Flüggé) Kunth
51. Paspalum cangarum C.O.Moura, P.L.Viana & R.C.Oliveira
52. Paspalum capillifolium Nash
53. Paspalum carajasense S.Denham
54. Paspalum carinatum Flüggé
55. Paspalum centrale Chase
56. Paspalum ceresia (Kuntze) Chase
57. Paspalum cerradoense R.C.Oliveira & Valls
58. Paspalum chacoense Parodi
59. Paspalum chaffanjonii Maury
60. Paspalum chaseanum Parodi
61. Paspalum chiapense Sánchez-Ken
62. Paspalum chilense Catanzaro & G.H.Rua
63. Paspalum cinerascens (Döll) A.G.Burm. & M.Bastos
64. Paspalum clandestinum Swallen
65. Paspalum clavuliferum C.Wright
66. Paspalum clipeum G.H.Rua, Valls, Graciano-Ribeiro & R.C.Oliveira
67. Paspalum comasii Catasús
68. Paspalum commune Lillo
69. Paspalum compressifolium Swallen
70. Paspalum conduplicatum Canto-Dorow, Valls & Longhi-Wagner
71. Paspalum conjugatum P.J.Bergius
72. Paspalum conspersum Schrad.
73. Paspalum convexum Flüggé
74. Paspalum corcovadense Raddi
75. Paspalum cordaense Swallen
76. Paspalum cordatum Hack.
77. Paspalum coryphaeum Trin.
78. Paspalum costaricense Mez
79. Paspalum costellatum Swallen
80. Paspalum crassum Chase ex Hitchc.
81. Paspalum crinitum Chase ex Hitchc.
82. Paspalum crispatum Hack.
83. Paspalum crispulum Swallen
84. Paspalum cromyorhizon Trin. ex Döll
85. Paspalum crucense (Killeen) S.Denham
86. Paspalum crustarium Swallen
87. Paspalum culiacanum Vasey
88. Paspalum cultratum (Trin.) S.Denham
89. Paspalum curassavicum Chase
90. Paspalum cymbiforme E.Fourn.
91. Paspalum dasypleurum Kunze ex É.Desv.
92. Paspalum dasytrichum Dusén ex Swallen
93. Paspalum decumbens Sw.
94. Paspalum dedeccae Quarín
95. Paspalum delavayi Henrard
96. Paspalum delicatum Swallen
97. Paspalum densum Poir.
98. Paspalum denticulatum Trin.
99. Paspalum dilatatum Poir.
100. Paspalum dispar Chase
101. Paspalum dissectum (L.) L.
102. Paspalum distachyon Poir. ex Trin.
103. Paspalum distichum L.
104. Paspalum distortum Chase
105. Paspalum divergens Döll
106. Paspalum durifolium Mez
107. Paspalum edmondii León
108. Paspalum eglume Morrone & Zuloaga
109. Paspalum ekmanianum Henrard
110. Paspalum ellipticum Döll
111. Paspalum equitans Mez
112. Paspalum erectum Chase
113. Paspalum erianthoides Lindm.
114. Paspalum erianthum Nees ex Trin.
115. Paspalum eucomum Nees ex Trin.
116. Paspalum exaltatum J.Presl
117. Paspalum expansum Döll
118. Paspalum falcatum Nees ex Steud.
119. Paspalum fasciculatum Willd. ex Flüggé
120. Paspalum filgueirasii Morrone & Zuloaga
121. Paspalum filifolium Nees ex Steud.
122. Paspalum filiforme Sw.
123. Paspalum fimbriatum Kunth
124. Paspalum flaccidum Nees
125. Paspalum flavescens (Roseng., B.R.Arrill. & Izag.) P.R.Speranza & G.H.Rua
126. Paspalum flavum J.Presl
127. Paspalum floridanum Michx.
128. Paspalum foliiforme S.Denham
129. Paspalum forsterianum Flüggé
130. Paspalum galapageium Chase
131. Paspalum gardnerianum Nees
132. Paspalum geminiflorum Steud.
133. Paspalum giuliettiae Pimenta, G.H.Rua & R.C.Oliveira
134. Paspalum glabrinode (Hack.) Morrone & Zuloaga
135. Paspalum glaucescens Hack.
136. Paspalum glaziovii (A.G.Burm.) S.Denham
137. Paspalum glumaceum Clayton
138. Paspalum goyanum Swallen
139. Paspalum goyasense Davidse, Morrone, Zuloaga
140. Paspalum gracielae Sulekic
141. Paspalum graniticum (A.G.Burm.) S.Denham
142. Paspalum guaricense Swallen
143. Paspalum guayanerum Beetle
144. Paspalum guenoarum Arechav.
145. Paspalum guttatum Trin.
146. Paspalum haenkeanum J.Presl
147. Paspalum hallasanense Y.N.Lee
148. Paspalum hartwegianum E.Fourn.
149. Paspalum hatschbachii Zuloaga & Morrone
150. Paspalum haumanii Parodi
151. Paspalum heterotrichon Trin.
152. Paspalum hintonii Chase
153. Paspalum hirsutum Retz.
154. Paspalum hirtum Kunth
155. Paspalum hispidum Swallen
156. Paspalum hitchcockii Chase
157. Paspalum huberi S.Denham
158. Paspalum humboldtianum Flüggé
159. Paspalum hyalinum Nees ex Trin.
160. Paspalum imbricatum Filg.
161. Paspalum inaequivalve Raddi
162. Paspalum inconstans Chase
163. Paspalum indecorum Mez
164. Paspalum insulare Ekman
165. Paspalum intermedium Munro ex Morong
166. Paspalum ionanthum Chase
167. Paspalum itaboense Catasús
168. Paspalum jaliscanum Chase ex Hitchc.
169. Paspalum jesuiticum Parodi
170. Paspalum jimenezii Chase
171. Paspalum juergensii Hack.
172. Paspalum killipii (Hitchc.) Zuloaga & Soderstr.
173. Paspalum lachneum Nees ex Steud.
174. Paspalum lacustre Chase ex Swallen
175. Paspalum laeve Michx.
176. Paspalum lamprocaryon K.Schum.
177. Paspalum lanciflorum Trin.
178. Paspalum langei (E.Fourn.) Nash
179. Paspalum latipes Swallen
180. Paspalum laurentii R.C.Oliveira & Valls
181. Paspalum laxum Lam.
182. Paspalum lentiginosum J.Presl
183. Paspalum leptachne Chase
184. Paspalum lepton Schult.
185. Paspalum ligulare Nees
186. Paspalum lilloi Hack.
187. Paspalum limbatum Henrard
188. Paspalum lindenianum A.Rich.
189. Paspalum lineare Trin.
190. Paspalum loefgrenii Ekman
191. Paspalum longiaristatum Davidse & Filg.
192. Paspalum longicuspe Nash
193. Paspalum longipedicellatum R.C.Oliveira & Valls
194. Paspalum longum Chase
195. Paspalum luxurians R.Guzmán & L.Rico
196. Paspalum macranthecium Parodi
197. Paspalum macrophyllum Kunth
198. Paspalum maculosum Trin.
199. Paspalum madorense Renvoize
200. Paspalum malacophyllum Trin.
201. Paspalum malmeanum Ekman
202. Paspalum mandiocanum Trin.
203. Paspalum maritimum Trin.
204. Paspalum marmoratum Kuhlm.
205. Paspalum mayanum Chase
206. Paspalum melanospermum Desv. ex Poir.
207. Paspalum microstachyum J.Presl
208. Paspalum millegranum Schrad.
209. Paspalum minarum Hack.
210. Paspalum minus E.Fourn.
211. Paspalum minutispiculatum P.A.Reis, R.C.Oliveira & Valls
212. Paspalum modestum Mez
213. Paspalum molle Poir.
214. Paspalum monostachyum Vasey ex Chapm.
215. Paspalum morichalense Davidse, Zuloaga & Filg.
216. Paspalum mosquitiense (Davidse & A.G.Burm.) S.Denham
217. Paspalum motembense León
218. Paspalum multicaule Poir.
219. Paspalum multinodum B.K.Simon
220. Paspalum mutabile Chase
221. Paspalum nanum C.Wright ex Griseb.
222. Paspalum nelsonii Chase
223. Paspalum nesiotes Chase
224. Paspalum niquelandiae Filg.
225. Paspalum notatum Flüggé
226. Paspalum nudatum Luces
227. Paspalum nummularium Chase ex Send.& A.G.Burm.
228. Paspalum nutans Lam.
229. Paspalum oligostachyum Salzm. ex Steud.
230. Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst.
231. Paspalum orbiculatum Poir.
232. Paspalum oreophilum (A.G.Burm.) S.Denham
233. Paspalum oteroi Swallen
234. Paspalum ovale Nees ex Steud.
235. Paspalum pallens Swallen
236. Paspalum pallidum Kunth
237. Paspalum palmeri Chase
238. Paspalum palustre Mez
239. Paspalum paniculatum L.
240. Paspalum parviflorum Rhode ex Flüggé
241. Paspalum parvulum (A.G.Burm.) S.Denham
242. Paspalum pauciciliatum (Parodi) Herter
243. Paspalum paucifolium Swallen
244. Paspalum peckii F.T.Hubb.
245. Paspalum pectinatum Nees
246. Paspalum penicillatum Hook.f.
247. Paspalum petilum Chase
248. Paspalum petrense A.G.Burm.
249. Paspalum petrosum Swallen
250. Paspalum phaeotrichum Valls, G.H.Rua, Graciano-Ribeiro & R.C.Oliveira
251. Paspalum phyllorhachis Hack.
252. Paspalum pictum Ekman
253. Paspalum pilgerianum Chase
254. Paspalum pilosum Lam.
255. Paspalum pisinnum Swallen
256. Paspalum planum Hack.
257. Paspalum plenum Chase
258. Paspalum plicatulum Michx.
259. Paspalum plowmanii Morrone & Zuloaga
260. Paspalum plurinerve Quarín, Valls & V.C.Rosso
261. Paspalum polyphyllum Nees ex Trin.
262. Paspalum praecox Walter
263. Paspalum procerum S.Denham
264. Paspalum procurrens Quarín
265. Paspalum prodigiosum Sánchez-Ken
266. Paspalum prostratum Scribn. & Merr.
267. Paspalum pubiflorum Rupr. ex E.Fourn.
268. Paspalum pulchellum Kunth
269. Paspalum pumilum Nees
270. Paspalum pygmaeum Hack.
271. Paspalum quadrifarium Lam.
272. Paspalum quarinii Morrone & Zuloaga
273. Paspalum racemosum Lam.
274. Paspalum ramboi I.L.Barreto
275. Paspalum rawitscheri (Parodi) Chase ex G.H.Rua & Valls
276. Paspalum reclinatum Chase
277. Paspalum rectum Nees
278. Paspalum redondense Swallen
279. Paspalum reduncum Nees ex Steud.
280. Paspalum regnellii Mez
281. Paspalum remotum Remy
282. Paspalum repandum (Nees) G.H.Rua & Valls
283. Paspalum repens P.J.Bergius
284. Paspalum reptatum Hitchc. & Chase
285. Paspalum restingense Renvoize
286. Paspalum reticulinerve Renvoize
287. Paspalum riedelii Mez
288. Paspalum riparium Nees
289. Paspalum robustum (Hitchc. & Chase) S.Denham
290. Paspalum rocanum León
291. Paspalum rostratum D.M.Ramos, Valls & R.C.Oliveira
292. Paspalum rottboellioides C.Wright
293. Paspalum rufum Nees ex Steud.
294. Paspalum rugulosum Morrone & Zuloaga
295. Paspalum rupestre Trin.
296. Paspalum rupium Renvoize
297. Paspalum saccharoides Nees ex Trin.
298. Paspalum saugetii Chase
299. Paspalum saurae (Parodi) Parodi
300. Paspalum scalare Trin.
301. Paspalum scandens Tutin
302. Paspalum schesslii Bonasora & G.H.Rua
303. Paspalum schultesii Swallen
304. Paspalum schumannii (Pilg.) S.Denham
305. Paspalum scrobiculatum L.
306. Paspalum scutatum Nees ex Trin.
307. Paspalum seminudum (A.G.Burm.) S.Denham
308. Paspalum serpentinum Hochst. ex Steud.
309. Paspalum setaceum Michx.
310. Paspalum setosum (Swallen) S.Denham
311. Paspalum simplex Morong
312. Paspalum sodiroanum Hack.
313. Paspalum soukupii E.Carbono
314. Paspalum sparsum Chase
315. Paspalum squamulatum E.Fourn.
316. Paspalum stagnophilum Morrone & Zuloaga
317. Paspalum standleyi Chase
318. Paspalum stellatum Flüggé
319. Paspalum strigosum Döll ex Chase
320. Paspalum subciliatum Chase
321. Paspalum subfalcatum (Döll) Tutin
322. Paspalum subsesquiglume Döll
323. Paspalum sumatrense Roth
324. Paspalum telmatum Swallen
325. Paspalum tenellum Willd.
326. Paspalum thrasyoides (Trin.) S.Denham
327. Paspalum thunbergii Kunth
328. Paspalum tillettii Davidse & Zuloaga
329. Paspalum tinctum Chase
330. Paspalum tolucense R.Guzmán
331. Paspalum torrense I.L.Barreto ex Valls & V.C.Rosso
332. Paspalum trachycoleon Steud.
333. Paspalum trianae Pilg.
334. Paspalum trichophyllum Henrard
335. Paspalum trichostomum Hack.
336. Paspalum trinii Swallen
337. Paspalum trinitense (Mez) S.Denham
338. Paspalum tuberosum Mez
339. Paspalum turriforme R.W.Pohl
340. Paspalum umbrosum Trin.
341. Paspalum unispicatum (Scribn. & Merr.) Nash
342. Paspalum urbanianum Ekman
343. Paspalum urvillei Steud.
344. Paspalum usterii Hack.
345. Paspalum uyucense R.W.Pohl
346. Paspalum vacarianum Valls & V.C.Rosso
347. Paspalum vaginatum Sw.
348. Paspalum variabile (E.Fourn.) Nash
349. Paspalum veredense G.H.Rua, R.C.Oliveira, Valls & Graciano-Ribeiro
350. Paspalum vexillarium G.H.Rua, Valls, Graciano-Ribeiro & R.C.Oliveira
351. Paspalum virgatum L.
352. Paspalum virletii E.Fourn.
353. Paspalum volcanense Zuloaga, Morrone & S.Denham
354. Paspalum wrightii Hitchc. & Chase
355. Paspalum yecorae Sánchez-Ken
356. Paspalum zuloagae Davidse & Filg.

Ecological Importance

Paspalum grasses play a vital role in their respective ecosystems. They serve as a valuable food source for a variety of animals, including grazing mammals, birds, and insects. Their extensive root systems help to stabilize soils, prevent erosion, and improve water infiltration. In some cases, Paspalum species even contribute to the formation of unique habitats, such as coastal grasslands and wetland communities.

Economic Significance

Several Paspalum species have significant economic value. As mentioned earlier, Paspalum scrobiculatum is cultivated as a cereal crop in some regions. Other species, such as Paspalum dilatatum and Paspalum notatum, are widely used as forage grasses for livestock. The latter is also a popular choice for lawns and turfs due to its hardiness and aesthetic appeal.

Challenges and Concerns

While Paspalum grasses offer numerous benefits, they can also pose challenges in certain contexts. Some species are considered invasive weeds, spreading aggressively and outcompeting native vegetation. This can disrupt ecosystems and reduce biodiversity. Additionally, certain Paspalum species can harbor fungal pathogens that produce toxins harmful to livestock.

Conservation and Future Directions

Despite the challenges, the future of Paspalum remains promising. Ongoing research focuses on developing improved cultivars with enhanced agronomic traits, such as increased yield, disease resistance, and nutritional value. Scientists are also exploring the potential of Paspalum species for phytoremediation, a process that uses plants to remove pollutants from the environment.

As we continue to learn more about this fascinating genus, it is crucial to prioritize conservation efforts to preserve the genetic diversity of Paspalum and ensure its continued contribution to our planet’s ecosystems and economies.

In Conclusion

The genus Paspalum stands as a testament to the remarkable diversity and adaptability of grasses. From their unique inflorescences to their ecological and economic significance, these plants have captured the attention of botanists, ecologists, and agriculturalists alike. As we move forward, it is essential to embrace sustainable practices that promote the conservation and responsible use of Paspalum species, ensuring that these grasses continue to thrive for generations to come.