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Weed Seed: Paspalum dilatatum (Dallis grass)

Invasive Plant - Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum)

Family

Poaceae

Common name

Dallis grass

Regulation

Prohibited Noxious, Class 1 in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order, 2016 under the Seeds Act. All imported and domestic seed must be free of Prohibited Noxious weed seeds.

Listed on the List of Pests Regulated by Canada established under the Plant Protection Act.

Distribution

Canadian: Absent from Canada (Brouillet et al. 2016Footnote 1).

Worldwide: Native to South America and introduced to southern Europe, tropical and southern Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the southern United States (CFIA 2014Footnote 2).

Duration of life cycle

Perennial

Seed or fruit type

Spikelet

Identification features

Size

Shape

Surface texture

Colour

Other features

Habitat and crop association

Dry prairie, marshy meadows, shrublands, riparian habitats, freshwater wetlands, lawns, golf courses, sports fields, waste places (Hitchcock and Chase 1950Footnote 3, CFIA 2012Footnote 4).

General information

Dallis grass was introduced into the southern United States in the 1800s as a forage grass (Hitchcock and Chase 1950Footnote 3). It has also been used as a turf grass (Barkworth et al. 2003Footnote 5). Turf grass seed contaminated with Dallis grass is a potential introduction pathway into new areas (CFIA 2014Footnote 2).

Similar species

Field paspalum (Paspalum laeve)

Photos

Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum) spikelets
Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum) spikelet
Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum) spikelet, inner bracts are hard and shell-like with a faint grid pattern

Similar species

Similar species: Field paspalum (Paspalum laeve) spikelets
Similar species: Field paspalum (Paspalum laeve) floret, profile
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