bahiagrass

Family

Poaceae

Scientific Name

Paspalum notatum

Other Common Names:

bahia grass

Habit

Bahiagrass is low-growing perennial warm-season grass that spreads with stolons and stout, scaly rhizomes.

Leaves

Leaves are flat or folded, tough-textured and are usually hairless. Leaf blades are 0.15-0.2 inches and 8-20 inches in length. Stems usually reach 8-30 inches tall. Bahiagrass has a membranous ligule (0.4mm long) with dense hairs on back.

Identifying Characteristics

Bahiagrass is easily identified by its "Y Shaped" seed head. It spread rapidly by rhizomes and stolons. It has a light green color, coarse texture and forms an open canopy. Bahiagrass is a prolific seed-producing plant.

Flower Seed Head

The seed head usually consists of a dual racemes with each attached to the top of a slender stem forming a V.

Seed Fruit

Seed is 3 to 4 mm long. It is green to brown in color.

Where Found

Bahiagrass is a deep-rooted perennial adapted to a wide range of soils. Bahiagrass is most productive on sandy soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Bahiagrass is a native to South America. It was introduced to the southeastern United States primarily for forage, and erosion control. It is now frequently planted on roadsides and highway rightways because it has good drought tolerance.