Taxonomic information
Guatemala grass has long been referred to as Tripsacum laxum Nash in the literature, but it is now considered that plants once described under that name belong to Tripsacum andersonii J. R. Gray. As of 2013, GRIN recognises Tripsacum andersonii J. R. Gray as the main Guatemala grass species, with Tripsacum laxum Nash is a distinct species. However, the situation remains confusing. Notably, the USDA only recognises Tripsacum fasciculatum Trin. ex Asch. and considers Tripsacum laxum Nash to be a synonym (USDA, 2012; Cook et al., 2005). This datasheet uses the name Tripsacum andersonii but it should be understood that the literature, which mostly refers to Tripsacum laxum, may actually describe either Tripsacum andersonii or different (but closely related) species, including Tripsacum laxum.