Paspalum species micrographs

Introduction

I had always known this Paspalum species as a food source for pet budgerigars.

In a post to Australian Plant Identification (group) on Facebook I learned the genus name is Paspalum and it is native to South America. The hairier "black dots" are the stigma (female parts that collect the pollen) and the other black dots appearing on only some of the flowers are the anthers (male parts that produce pollen).

Apparently "sclerotia of Claviceps paspali can often be found growing in Paspalum seed heads" - and these "can produce lysergic acid derivatives", also known as LSD.

Some of the common names given in the post include catterpillar grass (Paspalum dilatatum) and sticky grass - because at some times during its breeding cycle it produces a sticky substance which helps transport the seeds.

Cattle, sheep and goats all eat it although it can cause stringhalt in horses. Some humans like to chew on the stalks - something I remember doing as a kid too :D

With all this fascinating new information I thought these tiny flowers were deserving of closer examination..

Paspalum sp. grass

Slide preparation

Two concave slides were prepared as whole mounts with various portions of the flowering plant tipped into the convex depression. Cover slips were applied and the plant was examined under 40x and 100x magnifications.

Slide 1

Slide 2

Micrographs

Summary

File 5521

Showing the hair-like fibres protruding from the green petal's base.

File 5522

File 5523

File 5524

File 5525

File 5526

File 5527

File 5528

File 5529

File 5530

File 5531

File 5532

File 5533

File 5534

File 5535

File 5536

File 5537

File 5538

File 5539

File 5540

File 5541

File 5542