Paspalum conjugatum Bergius
Family
Gramineae
Synonyms
None
Vernacular Names
|
Malaysia |
Rumput kerbau, rumput ala negri. |
|
English |
Buffalo grass, carabao grass, sour paspalum. |
|
Indonesia |
Jampang pahit (Sundanese), paitan (Javanese), klamaran (Madura). |
|
Philippines |
Kulape (Tagalog), kauat-kauat (Visaya), kalo-kawayan (Ilokano). |
|
Thailand |
Ya-nomnon, ya-hep (Southern). |
|
Vietnam |
Co san cap. |
Geographical Distributions
Originally from the American tropics, Paspalum conjugatum is naturalised throughout Southeast Asia and in many tropical countries of the world. It is abundant in Indonesia, the Philippines and the Pacific Islands.
Description
Paspalum conjugatum is a vigorous and creeping perennial with long stolons. It roots at the nodes, with culms ascending to erect, measures 40-80(-100) cm tall, branching, solid and slightly compressed.
The leaf sheath is strongly compressed, usually 30-50 mm long and ciliate on the margins. The ligule is collar-shaped and about 1 mm long. The leaf blade is linear or lance-shaped-acuminate, measuring 8-20 cm x 5-12 mm and hairless to sparsely hairy.
The inflorescence is well-exserted with two or occasionally three diverging racemes. It is 7-16 cm long. The spikelets are solitary, imbricate, flattened ovate, measure up to 2 mm long and with long hairs on the margins. The lower glume is absent while the upper glume is with a fringe of long hairs (1 mm) along its margin.
This grass fruit is broadly ovoid, plano-convex, measures about 1 mm long and dark brown.
Ecology / Cultivation
Paspalum conjugatum grows from near sea level up to 1700 m altitude in open to moderately shaded places. It is adapted to humid climates. It is found under plantation crops and also along stream banks, roadsides and in disturbed areas on a variety of soils, often growing gregariously.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.4: Forages.
