Paspalum bifidum
| Paspalum bifidum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo taken by Kevin Robertson | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Liliopsida – Monocotyledons |
| Order: | Cyperales |
| Family: | Poaceae ⁄ Gramineae |
| Genus: | Paspalum |
| Species: | P. bifidum |
| Binomial name | |
| Paspalum bifidum (Bertol.) Nash | |
| |
| Natural range of Paspalum bifidum from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: Pitchfork crowngrass
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Description
Distribution
Ecology
Habitat
This species can be found growing in longleaf pine-scrub oak sand ridges, sandhills, mixed woodlands, and open longleaf pine forests on rolling terrain (FSU Herbarium). It has been observed in dry loamy sands and moist hummus-rich soils in open areas (FSU Herbarium). P. bifidum can also grow in disturbed areas such as along dirt roads and bottomland clearings along rivers (FSU Herbarium). It was a selected plant in the Palustris Experimental Forest in central Lousiana – a representative of the lower coastal plain – second growth longleaf pine (Pearson et al. 1982). Associated species include longleaf pine, palmetto, wiregrass, Liatris elegans, Quercus laevis, Hypericum gentianoides, Trichostema setacea, Cassia fascicularis, Eupatorium hyssopifolium, Liatris graminifolia, Elephantopus elatus, Agaratina aromatica, and Helianthus angustifolius (FSU Herbarium).
Phenology
This species has been observed flowering and fruiting from August to October (FSU Herbarium).
Seed dispersal
Seed bank and germination
Fire ecology
Pollination
Use by animals
Diseases and parasites
Conservation and Management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
Paspalum bifidum Photo by Kevin Robertson
References and notes
Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Robert K. Godfrey, James R. Burkhalter, Bob Lazor,G. Knight, M. Davis, and Robert L. Lazor. States and Counties: Florida: Bay, Escambia, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla, and Washington. Georgia: Baker and Thomas.
Pearson, H. A., H. E. Grelen, et al. (1982). Botanical composition and nutritive value of cattle diets on southern pine range. New Orleans, LA, USDA Forest Service, Research Paper SO-178.: 24.
