Paspalum distichum
L.
Poaceae
Anastrophus paspalodes (Michx.) Nash
Anastrophus paspaloides (Michx.) Nash
Digitaria disticha (L.) Fiori & Paol.
Digitaria paspalodes Michx.
Dimorphostachys oaxacensis (Steud.) E.Fourn. ex Hemsl.
Milium distichum (L.) Muhl.
Milium paspalodes (Michx.) Elliott
Panicum digitaria (Poir.) Latirr.
Panicum digitarioides Raspail ex Steud.
Panicum fernandezianum Colla
Panicum paspaliforme J.Presl
Panicum polyrrhizum J.Presl
Paspalum berteroanum Balb. ex Colla
Paspalum bracteatum Dufour ex Kunth
Paspalum chepica Steud.
Paspalum digitaria Poir.
Paspalum elliottii S.Watson
Paspalum fernandezianum Colla
Paspalum glaucifolium Berter ex Colla
Paspalum michauxianum Kunth
Paspalum oajacense Hemsl.
Paspalum oaxacense Steud.
Paspalum paspaliforme J.Presl
Paspalum paspalodes (Michx.) Scribn.
Paspalum paucispicatum Vasey
Paspalum polyrrhizum J.Presl
Paspalum schaffneri Griseb. ex E.Fourn.
Paspalum vaginatum pubescens Döll
Common Name: Salt Water Couch
Plant growing by and in the water
Photograph by: Not known
GNU Free Documentation License
Plant growing by and in the water
Photograph by: Not known
GNU Free Documentation License
Flowering plant, growing by the side of water
Photograph by: Harry Rose
The grass can form dense mats of growth
Photograph by: Harry Rose
Seeds
Photograph by: Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Public domain
General Information
Paspalum distichum is a perennial grass with erect culms that can be 15 - 60cm tall. The plant forms large mats of growth by virtue of its long creeping rhizomes and stolons[
].
An excellent choice of species for binding the soil in saline conditions. The plant is sometimes also grown as a lawn in the tropics, where it is tolerant of watering with saline water[
375- Title
- Grassland Species - Profiles
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - Chile, Argentina north through much of the continent, through C. America and the Caribbean as far north as New Jersey, Oregon and Idaho.
Habitat
Sands and muds near the seashore; saline soil; swamps; wet marshlands; polluted shallow water; along irrigation ditches, etc at elevations up to 1,700 metres[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Pollinators | Wind |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the temperate zone to the tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 1 - 36°c[
]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about °c, but young growth can be severely damaged at °c[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 750mm, but tolerates 400 - 1,200mm[
].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade[
]. Succeeds in most fertile soils, tolerating high levels of salt in the soil[
]. Succeeds in waterlogged soils and tolerates inundation by salt water[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6, tolerating 5 - 7[
].
A common weed from the warm temperate zone to the tropics[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. In direct-seeded rice it is a serious weed that grows vigorously under favourable conditions[
]. It may become a serious weed in irrigation channels[
375- Title
- Grassland Species - Profiles
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
Useful in erosion control on salted lands and areas reclaimed from tidal influences[
].
A useful soil binder along stream banks and on sandy sea shores[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
375- Title
- Grassland Species - Profiles
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - it shows some dormancy, which seems to require cold to break[
375- Title
- Grassland Species - Profiles
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
]. It germinates best at 20 - 30°c[
375- Title
- Grassland Species - Profiles
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
