Crab Grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Crab Grass
• Hilo grass
• Johnston grass
• buffalo grass
• carabao grass
• sour grass
• sour paspalum
• water grass
• yellow grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Digitaria conjugata
• Paspalum longissimum
• Paspalum renggeri
• Paspalum ciliatum
• Paspalum sieberianum
• Paspalum conjugatum f. tristachyum
• Paspalum conjugatum var. parviflorum
• Paspalum conjugatum var. pubescens
• Paspalum africanum
• Panicum conjugatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Poales. Finally, it is classified under the family Poaceae and the genus Paspalum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution throughout the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Furthermore, its presence extends into the territory of Burkina. The plant is also documented to inhabit parts of Ghana and Guinea. Finally, its range reaches as far as the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Paspalum conjugatum is characterized by its presence within forest habitats, where it thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient. This species is found at elevations ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL, though it typically occupies a mid-range niche with a mean elevation of approximately 600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Paspalum conjugatum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a continuous presence in its habitat. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, its perenn Perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the soil layer during unfavorable conditions. This specific life form, categorized both as a hemicryptophyte and under the broader classification of hemicryptophyte, enables the plant to effectively survive seasonal variations and regrow from its protected basal structures, ensuring its long-term survival and ability to spread within its ecological niche.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Paspalum conjugatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. This terrestrial species is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.603 m. As a purely terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior or aquatic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.603333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Paspalum conjugatum is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows for optimized carbon fixation and enhanced resource use efficiency in varying environmental conditions. Morphologically, the plant exhibits specialized leaf structures with a length that ranges from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. These leaves possess a varying width, with a minimum measurement of 0.5 cm, a mean width of 0.7 cm, and a maximum width reaching up to 1.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard leaf tissue density rather than storing significant water within its fleshy structures.

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paspalum conjugatum involves both sexual and asexual processes, as asexual reproduction is present in the species. Sexual reproduction is facilitated by an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically characterized by wind pollination. The plant produces yellow flowers that are held within inflorescences ranging from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 0.1 m in length. The resulting fruit is a dry achene, which is indehiscent in nature and reaches a maximum length of 0.1 cm. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0009253335 g (ranging from a minimum of 9.4e-05 g to a maximum of 0.00129 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.48 mm³. Dispersal of these seeds is primarily anthropochorous, meaning they are spread through human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.06 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass max:

0.00129 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0009253335 g

Seed mass min:

9.4e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.48 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Paspalum conjugatum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoflavones, triterpenoids.

Isoflavones

1. Journal of natural products

triterpenoids

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Paspalum conjugatum has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans.

Candida albicans

1. Journal of natural products

Cryptococcus neoformans

1. Journal of natural products