Urochloa serrata
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare
Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare
Photo: Bart Wursten
By path from Kopje Tops to Tingwa Raphia Palm Botanical Reserve, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area
Photo: Bart Wursten
By path from Kopje Tops to Tingwa Raphia Palm Botanical Reserve, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area
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| Synonyms: |
Brachiaria serrata var. gossypina (A. Rich.) Stapf Brachiaria andongensis (Rendle) Stapf Brachiaria brachylopha Stapf Brachiaria serrata (Thunb.) Stapf Holcus serratus Thunb. Panicum nigropedatum var. basipilifer Chiov. Panicum serratum var. hirtum Kuntze Panicum serratum var. holosericeum Th. Dur. & Schinz Panicum andongense Rendle Panicum gossypinum A. Rich. Panicum scopuliferum Trin. Panicum serratum (Thunb.) Spreng. Panicum serratum var. brachylophum (Stapf) A. Chev. Panicum serratum var. gossypinum (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz Sorghum serratum (Thunb.) Roem. & Schult. |
| Common names: | Velvet signal grass (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Tufted perennial, the basal sheaths silky tomentose. Culms 20–100 cm. high, erect or ascending. Leaf laminae glabrous to softly pilose, the margins ± cartilaginous. Inflorescence of 5–15 racemes, these 0.5–2 cm. long, short and compact, bearing the spikelets in 2 rows on a triquetrous rhachis beset with a few bristles. Spikelets 2–4.5 mm. long, ovate-elliptic, with a transverse fringe of pink or silver hairs above (rarely the fringe missing) otherwise pubescent, cuspidate to acuminate (rarely obtuse), without a stipe. Inferior glume 1/2 length of spikelet, subacute; superior glume obtuse to acuminate. Inferior lemma hollowed along the mid-nerve, sometimes obtuse in our area but usually tipped by a subulate awn-point up to 1 mm. long. Superior lemma striate, acute. |
| Type location: |
South Africa. |
| Notes: | Perennial tufted grass, up to 1 m. The leaves are basal, short with thickened serrated margins. The spikelets are densely covered in reddish hairs. See U. nigropedata for comparison. |
| Derivation of specific name: | serrata: serrate, saw-toothed |
| Habitat: | In rocky areas of sandy or loamy soil in grassland or deciduous woodland. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | Oct - Mar |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical and South Africa. |
| FZ divisions: | |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Saturday 7 October 2017 |
| Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. as Brachiaria serrata Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 6. as Brachiaria serrata Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 71. as Brachiaria serrata Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 131. as Brachiaria serrata Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 32. as Brachiaria serrata Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 101. as Brachiaria serrata Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 127. as Brachiaria serrata Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 132. as Brachiaria serrata Van Oudtshoorn, F.P. (1992). Grasses of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 253. as Brachiaria serrata (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Urochloa serrata:
Our websites:
Flora of Malawi: Urochloa serrataFlora of Mozambique: Urochloa serrata
Flora of Zambia: Urochloa serrata
Flora of Zimbabwe: Urochloa serrata
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Urochloa serrataAfrican Plant Database: Urochloa serrata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Urochloa serrata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Urochloa serrata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Urochloa serrata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Urochloa serrata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Urochloa serrata
JSTOR Plant Science: Urochloa serrata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Urochloa serrata
Plants of the World Online: Urochloa serrata
Tropicos: Urochloa serrata
Wikipedia: Urochloa serrata