Paspalum, Hairy Bead Grass, Thin Paspalum, Paspalum setaceum, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

	Grasses of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Height	Prime Season
	Paspalum	Paspalum setaceum Michx.	Poaceae (Grasses)	Upland	2.5 to3 feet	July to September
	Native Status	Paspalum, AKA: Thin Paspalum, Fringeleaf Paspalum, Hairy Bead Grass. This native grass is found in the United States in the eastern 2/3 rds of the country, from the Great Plains east to the coast but with spotty distribution within individual states. In Minnesota it has been found in only ten counties - all from the metro area south along the river corridor. There are four recorded varieties that have varying distributions within the states. Two varieties are reported by the U of M herbarium as being within Minnesota: Var. muhlenbergii (Nash) D.J. Banks and possibly var. stramineum (Nash) D.J. Banks.
Notes	Paspalum is a short-lived, warm-season, tufted perennial that grows from short rhizomes. Plants prefer sandy soil and are typically found in open woods, open ground, old fields and wood borders. It is not aggressive or a prolific plant as seed production and germination is low. The stems may be erect or spreading with few stems in a tuft. Leaf blades are flat, var. stramineum is green to yellowish-green; var. muhlenbergii is light to dark green. Blades are 2 to 10" long and up to 6/10" wide, with crinkly margins. The stem may be hairy, particularly at the leaf sheath collar. The flowering seed heads are racemes, usually of 1 to 3 per stem and about 2 to 5 inches long. Secondary flower heads are usually solitary. The spikelets are usually in pairs, arranged alternately in two rows on one side of the flattened raceme. This is a good example of a native grass that should be part of any prairie restoration, but low seed production limits its ability to provide a good wildlife seed source or its ability to maintain the population.


Photo above ©Phoebe Waugh	Photo above ©Phoebe Waugh
Below: Detail of the leaf/stem juncture of var. stramineum. Photo ©Anna Gardner, Iowa State University	Below: Drawing of var. muhlenbergii courtesy USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 129.

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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 28c, W2, W3, W5 & W6. Distribution principally from W2 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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