Paspalum is a perennial or panicum miliaceum. Its name "Paspalum" comes from the Greek word "Paspalum" and it is a kind of grain. Distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world, mostly in the western hemisphere, especially in Brazil. This genus contains more valuable grasses. The species cultivated and utilized are mainly introduced species.

There are 300 species of Paspalum in the world (400 species recorded in literature), and there are about 17 species in China (some documents record 16 species).

Paspalum in China

In addition, there are 18 species (Sun Bixing, 200 1) of Tibetan paspalum (specimens collected in Tibet by Biology Department of Yunnan University 1992). It is distributed in the wild all over the country, mainly in the tropics and subtropics, and most of them are excellent pastures. Chromosome is small, x= 10.

There are broadleaf paspalum, hairy paspalum, small flower paspalum, brown seed paspalum, Bahai paspalum and so on. In addition, there are other germplasm resources used for pasture and soil and water conservation, such as Bahia grass, Nicolai, Lividum and so on. Seashore paspalum is considered as a lawn plant.

Paspalum is rich in genetic diversity. For example, the spikelet of Commelina communis is about 2.5mm long, the second glume and the first lemma have 5 ~ 7 veins, and the edges are often wrinkled, and the plants and leaves are larger than those of neighboring species. Phytolacca acinosa has 5 ~ 7 veins on the second glume and the first lemma, which is similar to the paspalum of Anaconda in Taiwan Province province. The difference between commercial paspalum and anaconda is that the plant is short and erect, and the spikelet is about 2.3 mm long. The difference between commercial paspalum and Taiwan Province paspalum is that the spikelet handle is hairless. Taiwan Province Paspalum (P.formosanum.Honda) is similar to southern Paspalum, and they are often placed in the same species, but Taiwan Province Paspalum is different from it, its spikelet stalk is white, and its leaves are hairy on both sides and below the stalk and inflorescence. Yunnan paspalum is similar to round paspalum, but the spikelets are obviously larger, 3mm long and different. The long leaf paspalum is slightly hairy and has spikelets, which are twins, and four rows are alternately arranged on one side of the spike axis, which is different from the round fruit paspalum. The difference between Paspalum rotundifolia and its neighboring species is that the spikelet is about 2.2 mm long, and the second glume and the first lemma have three veins. The two glumes of Paspalum angustifolia do not exist, and the lemma of the second mature flower is thick and paper-like, with five obviously raised longitudinal edges, which is different from other species.