Couch paspalum (Paspalum distichum, Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 855 (1759))

Family: Poaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 855 (1759)

Year: 1759

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Paspalum

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: U.S.A. to Trop. & Subtrop. America

Description

Couch Paspalum, scientifically known as Paspalum distichum, is a perennial grass species belonging to the Poaceae family. Originally described in 1759 in the seminal work Systema Naturae by Carl Linnaeus, this grass has since spread widely, adapting to various climates and geographic regions.

Native to the United States and extending through tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Couch Paspalum thrives in warm environments. This grass is often found in a range of habitats, from moist lowlands to more arid areas, demonstrating a notable resilience and versatility.

Characterized by its coarse texture and spreading growth habit, Couch Paspalum forms dense mats that can cover large areas, making it effective for soil stabilization and erosion control. Its deep green blades and hearty constitution have made it a popular choice for pastures and, in certain regions, for turf grass.

Furthermore, Couch Paspalum is well-adapted to conditions that might challenge other species. It can tolerate saline soils and moderate drought, which positions it as a valuable plant for areas with challenging growing conditions. In agriculture, it serves as forage for livestock, though its palatability may vary depending on specific growing conditions and its stage of growth.

Despite its many advantages, Couch Paspalum can become invasive under certain conditions. Its dense growth can outcompete native flora, leading to concerns about biodiversity in regions where it is not originally found. Management practices are therefore essential to ensure that its spread does not disrupt local ecosystems.

Overall, Paspalum distichum exemplifies a hardy grass species with wide-ranging applications, from environmental management to agricultural use. Its ability to adapt and thrive across diverse climates underscores its ecological significance across its native and introduced ranges.

Common Names

Eng: knotgrass, mercer grass, thompson grass, water finger-grass, couch paspalum, eternity grass, ginger grass, joint grass, seaside millet, water couch, water-finger grass, buffalo quick paspalum, jointed crowngrass, knot paspalum
Ita: panico acquatico
Fra: paspale à deux épis
Heb: paspalun du-touri, פספלון דו טורי
Deu: pfannengras
Por: alcarnache, grama-de-joanópolis, grama-de-joanopólis, graminhão
Spa: gram d`aigua, grama, grama colorada, grama de agua, gramilla blanca, gramón, panizo, páspalo
Ara: moddeid
Ell: neragriada
Swe: tvillinghirs
Cym: byswellt y dŵr
En: Couch paspalum, Ginger grass, Water couch, Water-finger grass, Eternity grass, Joint grass, Mercer grass, Seaside millet, Thompson grass, Knotgrass, Water Finger-grass, Buffalo Quick Paspalum, Jointed crowngrass, Knot paspalum, Joint Paspalum, Knotroot paspalum, Large knotgrass
Ar: Moddeid, خوسه، حشيش أبو خوصه (حَشيش أبو خوسه), مديد (مُدِّيد)، مداد (مِدَّاد)، مطيط (مُطيط), نجيل مديد (نِجيل مُديْد)، ابو عقيله (أبو عُقيله)
Ca: Gram d’aigua
Zh: Shuang sui que bai
Fr: Paspale à deux épis, Paspalum vaginé
De: Pfannengras, Knotgras
El: Neragriada
He: Paspalun du-touri, פספלון דו טורי, פספלון דו-טורי
It: Panico acquatico, Paspalo distico
Ja: Kishū-suzume-no-hie
Pt: Grama-de-Joanópolis, Alcarnache, Grama-de-joanopólis, Graminhão
Pt-br: Grama-braba, Grama-da-praia, Grama-doce, Grama-rasteira-da-praia, Capim-arame
Es: Gramilla blanca, Grama colorada, Gram d`aigua, Grama, Grama de agua, Gramón, Panizo, Páspalo, Pasto dulce, Pata de gallina, Grama de mar
Sv: Tvillinghirs
Cy: Byswellt y Dŵr

Synonyms

• Anastrophus paspalodes ((Michx.) Nash)
• Paspalum vaginatum var. pubescens (Döll)
• Paspalum chepica (Steud.)
• Paspalum glaucifolium (Berter ex Colla)
• Paspalum distichum var. longirepens (Domin)
• Panicum paspaliforme (J.Presl)
• Paspalum paspalodes ((Michx.) Scribn.)
• Paspalum distichum subsp. paucispicatum ((Vasey) Verloove & Reynders)
• Paspalum distichum subsp. paspalodes ((Michx.) Thell.)
• Paspalum oaxacense (Steud.)
• Paspalum oajacense (Hemsl.)
• Paspalum bracteatum (Dufour ex Kunth)
• Panicum digitaria ((Poir.) Latirr.)
• Paspalum distichum var. paspalodes ((Michx.) Thell.)
• Paspalum berteroanum (Balb. ex Colla)
• Dimorphostachys oaxacensis ((Steud.) E.Fourn. ex Hemsl.)
• Paspalum michauxianum (Kunth)
• Digitaria disticha ((L.) Fiori & Paol.)
• Paspalum distichum subsp. digitaria ((Hack.) P.Fourn.)
• Milium paspalodes ((Michx.) Elliott)
• Panicum polyrrhizum (J.Presl)
• Paspalum paucispicatum (Vasey)
• Paspalum fernandezianum (Colla)
• Digitaria paspalodes (Michx.)
• Paspalum elliottii (S.Watson)
• Paspalum distichum var. microstachyum (Domin)
• Paspalum distichum var. digitaria ((Poir.) Hack.)
• Paspalum distichum var. indutum (Shinners)
• Milium distichum ((L.) Muhl.)
• Paspalum digitaria (Poir.)
• Panicum digitarioides (Raspail ex Steud.)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Bermuda (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• California (native)
• Central American Pac (native)
• Chile Central (native)
• Chile North (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Florida (native)
• Galápagos (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Juan Fernández Is. (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Utah (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Aldabra (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iran (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Maluku (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Saudi Arabia (introduced)
• Sinai (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sulawesi (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
• Tuvalu (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Oct 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Gisèle DAKHLIA (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2021 by Robin Boyd (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Gisèle DAKHLIA (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 13, 2011 by EOL − Steve Matson (cc-by-nc)

Taken Sep 13, 2011 by EOL − Steve Matson (cc-by-nc)

Taken Sep 26, 2005 by EOL − Luigi Rignanese (cc-by-nc)

Taken Nov 2, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 2, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 2, 2021 by Coco Coutre (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken May 25, 2021 by Robin Boyd (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 8, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Oct 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2004 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Oct 24, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Gisèle DAKHLIA (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Oct 15, 2015 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Nov 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2705622)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:184275-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Paspalum distichum L.)

Specifications

Growth