Flora of the Southeastern United States

Paspalidium geminatum (Forsskål) Stapf. Common name: Alligator Grass, Paspalidium, Kissimmee Grass. Phenology: Jan-Dec. Habitat: Deep water of marshes, graminoid-dominated sloughs and swamps (e.g. holes in cypress domes – in sun), and disturbed wet areas including canals. Distribution: GA south to FL, west to TX; also in Central and South America; also in Old World tropics. The apparent SC record is based on a mislabeling (K. Bradley, pers.comm., 2020).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Two taxa are sometimes distinguished, at specific or varietal rank (see synonymy): "geminatum s.s." with smaller spikelets and glumes and sterile lemma not papery, and "paludivagum" with larger spikelets (2.8-3.0 mm long) and glumes and sterile lemma papery. Additional study is needed.

Other Comments: This taxon is sometimes considered an introduction from the Old World, but its occurrence in undisturbed wetlands remote from extensive human activity suggests that it is native.

Synonymy ⓘ: = ETx1, FlGr, FNA25, GW1, K4, Meso6, Mex, NcTx, WH3, Crins (1991); = n/a — C; > Panicum geminatum Forssk. — Bah, HC, S, SFla, Tx; > Panicum paludivagum Hitchc. & Chase — HC, RAB, S, SFla, Tx; > Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf var. geminatum — Mo1; > Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf var. paludivagum (Hitchc. & Chase) Gould; > Paspalidium paludivagum (Hitchc. & Chase) Parodi; > Setaria geminata (Forssk.) Veldkamp var. geminata — Webster (1995); > Setaria geminata (Forssk.) Veldkamp var. paludivaga (Hitchc. & Chase) R.D.Webster — Webster (1995). Basionym: Panicum geminatum Forssk. 1775

Links to other floras: = Paspalidium geminatum - FNA25

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
• Great Plains: OBL
• Midwest: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 7