Paspalum laeve

Species category

Weed

Common name

field paspalum

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.

Shape

OvalOval:
Broadly elliptic.

Size

  • Length 2.5–2.8 mm
  • Width 2–2.2 mm
  • Thickness 1.5–2 mm

Color

Light brown 

Texture

GlumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
smooth and glabrousGlabrous:
Lacking hairs or pubescence.

Lemma

Finely roughened by longitudinal rows of minute tubercles

Palea

Hard and flat

Other structures

SpikeletsSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
strongly arched with nerves in distinct lines.

Identification notes

SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
missing the first glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
. The midnerve of the second glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
is strong and terminates in a minute point. The scar is moderately wide.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Paspalum laeve Michx.

Synonyms

Paspalum circulare Nash
Paspalum laeve Michx. var. circulare (Nash) Stone
Paspalum laeve Michx. var. pilosum Scribn.
Paspalum longipilum Nash
Paspalum plenipilum Nash

 Paspalum laeve . Spikelets with a missing first glume.
Paspalum laeve. Spikelets with a missing first glume.
From Left to Right: 1.  Paspalum scrobiculatum  2.  Paspalum dilatatum  3.  Paspalum laeve  4.  Paspalum notatum  5.  Paspalum setaceum  var . stramineum . Spikelets are strongly arched with nerves in distinct lines.
From Left to Right: 1. Paspalum scrobiculatum 2. Paspalum dilatatum 3. Paspalum laeve 4. Paspalum notatum 5. Paspalum setaceum var. stramineum. Spikelets are strongly arched with nerves in distinct lines.