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Synonyms: |
Andropogon plumosus Willd. Andropogon spicatus (L. f.) Steud. Andropogon truncatus (Nees) Steud. Heteropogon truncatus Nees Stipa spicata L. f. Trachypogon capensis Trin. Trachypogon durus Stapf Trachypogon glaucescens Pilg. Trachypogon involutus Pilg. Trachypogon planifolius Stapf Trachypogon plumosus (Willd.) Nees Trachypogon polymorphus Hack. var. truncatus (Nees) Hack. Trachypogon truncatus (Nees) Andersson |
Common names: | Giant spear grass (English) Grey-beard grass (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Densely tufted perennial with unbranched, erect culms, often red or purple, up to 1.5 m tall. A ring of white hairs present at the nodes. Leaves basal, 5-20 cm long and c. 5 mm wide. Inflorescence a single spike 8-20 cm long. Spikelets 6-8 mm long with awns 35-70 mm long, covered in velvety white hairs. Awns straight when young but curving outwards and looking messy when older. Stamens bright yellow to orange. |
Notes: | A moderately nutritious grass but only palatable when young. Similar to Heteropogon contortus and Urelytrum argopyroides but both those grasses do not have hairs at the nodes. |
Derivation of specific name: | spicatus: arranged in a spike; spicate |
Habitat: | Wooded grassland, sometimes at margins of floodplains or drainage tracks. |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Throughout tropical Africa and South Africa. Also in South America. |
Botswana distribution: | N |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Wednesday 3 August 2016 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 365. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 56. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 35. Cope, T.A. (2002). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(4) Pages 19 - 21. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 463. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 63. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 63. ? quid var. 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 111. Roodt, V. (2015). Grasses & Grazers of Botswana and the surrounding savanna Struik Nature, South Africa Pages 212 - 213. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 146. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 28. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 86. |
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