Paspalum setaceum

Species category

Weed

Common name

thin 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 2–2.2 mm
  • Width 1.7–2 mm
  • Thickness 1.2–1.5 mm

Color

Light brown 

Texture

Smooth with only a trace of a central nerve

Lemma

Hard, arched and smooth

Palea

Hard, flat and smooth

Other structures

GlumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
tight fitting and just covering the floretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
.

Identification notes

Unit usually found as a 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.
. The first glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
is missing, leaving the second glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
and the sterile lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
to cover the floretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Paspalum setaceum Michx.

Synonyms

Paspalum bushii Nash
Paspalum ciliatifolium Michx.
Paspalum ciliatifolium
Michx. var. muehlenbergii (Nash) Fernald
Paspalum ciliatifolium Michx. var. stramineum (Nash) Fernald
Paspalum debile Michx.
 Paspalum longepedunculatum Leconte
Paspalum muehlenbergii Nash
Paspalum propinquum Nash
Paspalum psammophilum Nash
Paspalum pubescens Muhl. ex Willd.
Paspalum rigidifolium
Nash
Paspalum separatum Shinners
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. calvescens Fernald
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. ciliatifolium (Michx.) Vasey
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. longepedunculatum (Leconte) Alph. Wood
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. muehlenbergii (Nash) D. Banks
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. psammophilum (Nash) D. Banks
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. rigidifolium (Nash) D. Banks
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. stramineum (Nash) D. Banks
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. supinum (Bosc ex Poir.) Trin.
Paspalum setaceum Michx. var. villosissimum (Nash) D. Banks
Paspalum stramineum Nash
Paspalum supinum Bosc ex Poir.

 Paspalum setaceum var. stramineum . Smooth seeds with only a trace of a central nerve.
Paspalum setaceum var. stramineum. Smooth seeds with only a trace of a central nerve.
From Left to Right: 1.  Paspalum scrobiculatum  2.  Paspalum dilatatum  3.  Paspalum laeve  4.  Paspalum notatum  5.  Paspalum setaceum  var.  stramineum . Has tight-fitting glumes that just cover the floret.
From Left to Right: 1. Paspalum scrobiculatum 2. Paspalum dilatatum 3. Paspalum laeve 4. Paspalum notatum 5. Paspalum setaceum var. stramineum. Has tight-fitting glumes that just cover the floret.