Paspalum

Paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum) is a warm season perennial grass weed that causes problems on lawns throughout the North Island of New Zealand. (Note that this is significantly different plant to the turf variety known  as Seashore paspalum). It is a problem in summer when it produces large numbers of seed heads and its low growing wide leaves hug the ground, tending to smother other more desirable species.

It is dormant for the majority of winter, though the crowns are often still visible in lawns that are cut at a low mowing height. The seed heads of paspalum are similar to some other types of annual summer grass, which tend to be prominent at the same time of the year. The leaves are dark green in colour and are hairless with the exception of two tufts the at emerge at the base of each leaf blade.