Paspalum dilatatum

Identification tip: One of only two species of Paspalum with hairy spikelets. The other is P. urvelii which has 10-30 rames in the inflorescence while P. dilitatum has 3-7 rames (see photo). The spikelets of P. dilitatum are best observed under a hand lens while those of P. urvelii are visible to the naked eye. Usually only 3 racemes.

Commercial seed has a purity of 70%, germination rate of 70%, 220,000 seed/lbs, and the recommended planting rate is 8-20 lbs/acre.

The following information is for the genus Paspalum with note that P. ciliatifolium and P. boscianum are used most extensively. (Neither are found in this database). Animals that eat the plant and its seeds: Mottled duck, Green-winged teal, Canada goose. Animals that eat its seeds: Purple gallinule, Sora rail, Ground dove, Mourning dove, Bobwhite quail, Wild turkey, Redwing blackbird, Cowbird, Junco, Pyrrhuloxia, Pine-woods sparrow, Vesper sparrow, Towhee. Animals that eat the plant: Eastern cottontail rabbit, Bison, White-tailed deer (Martin et al. 1951). Palatable and nutritious, dallisgrass provides excellent forage for all classes of livestock. It withstands continuous grazing if well established.

The Acadian French name for dallisgrass is "Chiendent," which translates to "dog tooth" . This name was also used for P. repens (Holmes 1990). Dallisgrass is sometimes infected with ergot (see record for ergot [Claviceps purpurea}). It is thought to be apomictic (USDA 1948). It is frequently found in disturbed areas throughout Louisiana and Texas.

Loamy disturbed soils, roadsides, fields, and waste places, moist fields or woods.

Primarily used on grazing land, it can also be cut for hay and used for erosion control.