Paspalum plicatulum Michx., brownseed paspalum 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, rhizomatous perennial. 
Height: 2 to 4 feet. 
Leaf blade: Slightly folded; stiff; bluish green; 8 to 20 inches 
long ; smooth ; hairy near base. 
Leaf sheath: Compressed ; smooth and papery ; slightly purple 
at base. 
Ligule: Brown membrane 1/8 inch long. 
Stem: Compressed ; often purplish at base. 
Seedhead: 3 to 7 racemes, each 2-1/2 to 3 inches long; mature 
seed dark brown ; spikelets extremely cross wrinkled on flat 
side. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts during late winter and early spring. New growth 
is usually mixed with old. Produces seedheads from early summer 
until frost. Mature seedheads are mixed with green leaves and 
new seedheads. In Florida, basal leaves stay green all winter. Re- 
produces from short rhizomes and from seed. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Throughout Florida and the Coastal Plain from North Carolina 
to east Texas and in Puerto Rico. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Grows well on strongly acid to neutral, poorly drained, clay 
loam soils and on excessively drained, deep, sandy soils. Grows in 
the mountainous region of Puerto Rico on clay soils. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Brownseed paspalum is grazed by livestock any season. Quail 
and wild ducks eat the seed. 
This grass responds to grazing deferments of about 30 days. It 
decreases under continuous grazing. 
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