*Paspalum dilatatum

Family Poaceae

Paspalum

Tufted perennial grass with stems to 2 m high. Longevity indefinite.

Flowers: Summer – autumn. Wind pollinated.

Fruit: Dry one-seeded indehiscent fruit.

Seed: Dispersed by adhesion to animals etc.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Native of South America. Widespread pasture species, weed of lawns and disturbed land.
• Common weed in woodland and grasslands at the Australian Botanic Garden.
• Resprouts after fire.
• C4 warm season metabolism.

Recent observations

• There appears to be decline and death of old plants and no seedling recruitment in the recent dry period 2000-2006 in woodland sites at the Australian Botanic Garden.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.