Paspalum ciliatifolium Michx., fringeleaf paspalum 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season , low-growing perennial. 
Height: 6 inches to 2 feet. 
Leaf blade: Flat; 4 to 14 inches long; 1/2 inch wide; may have 
hair on margin. 
Leaf sheath : Hairy 
Seedhead: 1 to 3 racemes 2 to 5 inches long on each seedstalk 
— a terminal raceme and 1 or 2 axillary racemes hidden 
in sheath. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Fringeleaf paspalum is one of the eight species of low paspalums 
that are similar and often hybridize, making it difficult to separate 
them in the field. The other seven species are barestem paspalum 
(P. longepedunculatum) , thin paspalum (P. setaceum), goldhair 
paspalum (P. debile ), longhair paspalum (P. supinum), hurrah- 
grass (P. pubescens), little seed paspalum (P. propinquum), and 
stiff paspalum (P. rigidifolium) . Low paspalums grow from March 
or April until freezing weather. They produce seed through sum- 
mer and fall. Major reproduction is from seed; a few species 
spread from short, weak rhizomes. Low paspalums are dormant 
during winter except in south Florida. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Throughout the South. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Low paspalums grow on all sites in the South except marshes. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Most low paspalums are fair forage for cattle and deer during 
spring and summer. Their value as winter roughage is poor. Quail 
and other birds eat the seed. 
Low paspalums increase on areas continuously grazed closely. 
Although they respond to proper grazing use and deferred grazing, 
management is generally planned to favor the more productive as- 
sociated grasses. 
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