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| ## longtom paspalum {#longtom-paspalum .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Paspalum lividum* Trin.                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = PALI7                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.2916666666666665in" height="3.4375in"}

##### Alternate Names

##### *Paspalum denticulatum*, longtom

##### 

##### Uses

*Forage:* Longtom paspalum (*Paspalum lividum*) is valuable as a native
range plant to grazing animals. Hatch, Schuster, and Drawe (1999) note
that longtom paspalum is one of the top four species in cattle diets on
mid-successional rangelands along the central Texas Gulf Coast.

*Erosion:* It can also be used as a ground cover for erosion control.

*Wildlife:* The seeds of longtom paspalum can provide food for birds.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

Longtom paspalum is a native, warm-season, stoloniferous perennial. It
is a member of the Paniceae tribe of the grass family Poaceae. It grows
to 2-3 feet in height. Longtom paspalum is an apomitic species, which
means it produces seed without fertilization. There is no known
commercial variety of longtom paspalum.

##### Adaptation and Distribution {#adaptation-and-distribution .Header-3}

Longtom paspalum is native along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida and
Alabama to Texas, through Eastern Mexico, south to Argentina, and in the
Carribean Islands. In Texas, longtom paspalum can be found in the
southeast region, and in the coastal part of the Rio Grande Plains. It
grows in low-lying areas, wet savannahs, in swamps, along streambanks,
and in ditches. Longtom paspalum prefers moist to semi-wet conditions
and tight clay loam soils. It appears to be sensitve to frost.

For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Longtom paspalum can be grown from seed, from cuttings, or from
vegetative clumps. It appears to germinate best at temperatures between
20º-30º C. Germination tests done with longtom paspalum seed by the
Texas Department of Agriculture Laboratory at Giddings, Texas yielded
germination averages ranging from 15%-56% for different harvest years.
Seed production and seed fertility of longtom paspalum appears to be
highly dependent on the amount of moisture the plants receive during the
growing season. In drier years, seed production and seed fertility
decrease sharply in non-irrigated plants. Even under good irrigation,
seed yields have been low (2-5 lbs. per acre) at the Plant Materials
Center. There are approximately 567,500 seeds/ pound of longtom
paspaulm.

Plant Materials Center staff has had the best success growing longtom
paspalum from cuttings, with approximately 90% survival. Its stolons
make this grass well adapted to this method of reproduction. Larger
vegetative clumps of longtom paspalum can also be moved to new sites.
Once established, the plants will spread themselves via many runners.
Adequate irrigation must be provided for cuttings or clumps to be
transplanted successfully.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

For seed production purposes, longtom paspalum must be irrigated when
rainfall totals are low or else seed production, fill, and fertility
will be greatly reduced. Regular fertilization of longtom paspalum is
also necessary, as it appears to be sensitive to iron deficient soils.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

For Texas, this grass is best suited to southern coastal areas where
mesic conditions dominate, and the chance of frost is low. This grass
prefers "wet feet" and is not exceedingly drought tolerant. Under
drought conditions, it does not compete well with bermuda grass. Weed
control and iron deficiency can also be a problem.

For additional assistance regarding the production and establishment of
longtom paspalum, please contact the Plant Material Center at (361)
595-1313.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator:  {#prepared-by-species-coordinator .Header-3}

*John Lloyd-Reilley*, Manager

*Elizabeth Kadin*, Research Assistant

*Shelly D. Maher*, Research Scientist

Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center

Kingsville, Texas

##### 

##### Edited: 1Oct2003 SDM; 05Nov2003 jlk; 060802 jsp {#edited-1oct2003-sdm-05nov2003-jlk-060802-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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