Smithsonian Institution
Scholarly Press
smithsonian contributions to botany • number 108
Grasses of Mali
Kamal M. Ibrahim,
Shruti Dube,
Paul M. Peterson, and
Hasnaa A. Hosni
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smithsonian contributions to botany • numb e r 1 0 8
Grasses of Mali
Kamal M. Ibrahim,
Shruti Dube,
Paul M. Peterson, and
Hasnaa A. Hosni
WASHINGTON, D.C.
2018
ABSTRACT
Ibrahim, Kamal M., Shruti Dube, Paul M. Peterson, and Hasnaa A. Hosni. Grasses of Mali. Smithsonian
Contributions to Botany, Number 108, x + 146 pages, 208 figures, 2018. — A vegetative key, descriptions,
and illustrations for the identification of 199 native and naturalized grasses that occur in Mali are presented.
In addition, we provide a modern classification, glossary of terms, and indexes to scientific and common
names. The key is based on vegetative characters to allow identification of specimens that do not have flowering structures (inflorescences and spikelets). Two new combinations are made, Urochloa orthostachys and
Urochloa stigmatisata, and we lectotypify Panicum orthostachys.
Cover images, from left to right: Phragmites karka inflorescence (Figure 149C); Sorghastrum stipoides inflorescence (Figure 170C); Cenchrus biflorus spikelet (Figure 41C); Tripogonella minima habit (Figure 192A);
Oxytenanthera abyssinica ligule, sheath apex, and leaf blade (Figure 137B); Loudetiopsis kerstingii inflorescence (Figure 127C); Ctenium villosum inflorescence (Figure 59C).
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ibrahim, Kamal M., author. | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, publisher.
Title: Grasses of Mali / Kamal M. Ibrahim [and three others].
Other titles: Smithsonian contributions to botany; no. 108. 0081-024X
Description: Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2018. | Series: Smithsonian
contributions to botany, ISSN 0081-024X ; number 108 | Includes bibliographical references. |
Smithsonian Institution Compilation copyright 2018
Identifiers: LCCN 2018026742
Subjects: LCSH: Grasses—Mali—Identification. | Grasses—Mali—Classification.
Classification: LCC QK495.G74 I245 2018 | DDC 584/.92096623—dc23 | SUDOC SI 1.29:108
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018026742
ISSN: 1938-2812 (online); 0081-024X (print)
Publication date (online): 26 October 2018
Ó The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48–1992.
Contents
LIST OF FIGURES
INTRODUCTION
Morphological Characters
Vegetation
Identification
Synopsis
Acknowledgments
v
1
2
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7
11
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VEGETATIVE KEY TO THE GRASSES OF MALI
13
DESCRIPTIONS
25
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
131
REFERENCES
137
INDEX OF COMMON NAMES (MALI)
139
INDEX OF COMMON NAMES (ENGLISH)
141
INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES
145
Figures
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General morphology
Growth forms
Types of sheaths, auricles, and collars
Ligules types, shapes, and margins
Leaf blade apices, bases, and margins
Leaf blade characteristics
Inflorescence types
Inflorescence and spikelet characteristics
Vegetation map of Mali
Acrachne racemosa
Acroceras amplectens
Alloteropsis paniculata
Anadelphia afzeliana
Anadelphia leptocoma
Andropogon africanus
Andropogon canaliculatus
Andropogon chevalieri
Andropogon festuciformis
Andropogon gayanus
Andropogon ivorensis
Andropogon perligulatus
Andropogon pseudapricus
Andropogon tectorum
Anthephora pubescens
Aristida adscensionis
Aristida cumingiana var. uniseta
Aristida diminuta
Aristida funiculata
Aristida hordeacea
Aristida kunthiana
Aristida mutabilis
Aristida recta
Aristida rhiniochloa
Aristida sieberiana
Aristida stipoides
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Arthraxon lancifolius
Arundinella nepalensis
Avena sativa
Bambusa vulgaris
Cenchrus americanus
Cenchrus biflorus
Cenchrus ciliaris
Cenchrus hordeoides
Cenchrus pedicellatus
Cenchrus polystachios subsp. atrichus
Cenchrus prieurii
Cenchrus violaceus
Chloris gayana
Chloris pilosa
Chloris prieurii
Chloris virgata
Chrysochloa hindsii
Chrysopogon fulvibarbis
Chrysopogon nigritanus
Coelachyrum brevifolium
Coix lacryma-jobi
Ctenium elegans
Ctenium newtonii
Ctenium villosum
Cymbopogon caesius
Cymbopogon schoenanthus
Cynodon dactylon
Dactyloctenium aegyptium
Dichanthium annulatum
Dichanthium foveolatum
Diectomis fastigiata
Digitaria acuminatissima
Digitaria aristulata
Digitaria barbinodis
Digitaria ciliaris
Digitaria debilis
Digitaria delicata
Digitaria delicatula
Digitaria exilis
Digitaria fragilis
Digitaria gayana
Digitaria leptorachis
Digitaria longiflora
Digitaria nuda
Digitaria ternata
Diheteropogon hagerupii
Dilophotriche tristachyoides
Dinebra coerulescens
Echinochloa callopus
Echinochloa colona
Echinochloa pyramidalis
Echinochloa stagnina
Eleusine africana
Eleusine indica
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NUMBER 108
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Elionurus elegans
Elymandra androphila
Elytrophorus spicatus
Enneapogon persicus
Eragrostis aegyptiaca
Eragrostis aspera
Eragrostis atrovirens
Eragrostis barteri
Eragrostis cilianensis
Eragrostis ciliaris
Eragrostis gangetica
Eragrostis japonica
Eragrostis lingulata
Eragrostis pilosa
Eragrostis plurigluma
Eragrostis prolifera
Eragrostis squamata
Eragrostis tenella
Eragrostis tremula
Eragrostis turgida
Eriochloa fatmensis
Euclasta condylotricha
Hackelochloa granularis
Hemarthria altissima
Hyparrhenia cyanescens
Hyparrhenia rufa
Hyparrhenia subplumosa
Hyperthelia dissoluta
Imperata cylindrica
Ischaemum polystachyum
Lasiurus scindicus
Leersia hexandra
Leptothrium senegalense
Loudetia hordeiformis
Loudetia phragmitoides
Loudetia simplex
Loudetia togoensis
Loudetiopsis kerstingii
Micrachne obtusiflora
Microchloa indica
Oplismenus hirtellus
Oropetium aristatum
Oropetium capense
Oryza barthii
Oryza brachyantha
Oryza longistaminata
Oryza sativa
Oxytenanthera abyssinica
Panicum anabaptistum
Panicum antidotale
Panicum callosum
Panicum fluviicola
Panicum laetum
Panicum repens
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Panicum tenellum
Panicum turgidum
Panicum walense
Parahyparrhenia annua
Paspalum scrobiculatum
Phragmites karka
Rhytachne rottboellioides
Rhytachne triaristata
Rottboellia afraurita
Sacciolepis africana
Sacciolepis chevalieri
Sacciolepis micrococca
Schizachyrium brevifolium
Schizachyrium exile
Schizachyrium gresicola
Schizachyrium nodulosum
Schizachyrium ruderale
Schizachyrium rupestre
Schizachyrium sanguineum
Schoenefeldia gracilis
Sehima ischaemoides
Setaria barbata
Setaria geminata
Setaria pumila
Setaria sphacelata var. anceps
Setaria verticillata
Sorghastrum stipoides
Sorghum arundinaceum
Sorghum bicolor
Sporobolus festivus
Sporobolus helvolus
Sporobolus ioclados
Sporobolus microprotus
Sporobolus pectinellus
Sporobolus pyramidalis
Sporobolus spicatus
Sporobolus stolzii
Stapfochloa lamproparia
Stipagrostis acutiflora
Stipagrostis hirtigluma
Stipagrostis uniplumis
Tetrapogon cenchriformis
Themeda triandra
Tragus berteronianus
Tragus racemosus
Trichanthecium brazzavillense
Trichanthecium parvifolium
Trichoneura mollis
Tripogonella minima
Tristachya superba
Triticum aestivum
Urelytrum muricatum
Urochloa arrecta
Urochloa deflexa
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Urochloa jubata
Urochloa lata
Urochloa mutica
Urochloa orthostachys
Urochloa ramosa
Urochloa stigmatisata
Urochloa trichopus
Urochloa villosa
Urochloa xantholeuca
Vossia cuspidata
Zea mays
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ix
Grasses of Mali
Kamal M. Ibrahim,1 Shruti Dube,1 Paul M. Peterson,1* and Hasnaa A. Hosni 2
INTRODUCTION
Department of Botany, National Museum
of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution,
MRC 166, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C.
20013-7012, USA.
2
Department of Botany and Microbiology and
The Herbarium, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt.
* Correspondence: peterson@si.edu
Manuscript received 28 September 2017;
accepted 9 April 2018.
1
Three hundred years before the Christian era, Theophrastus, a Greek scholar, recognized the grass family. The first scientific subdivision of the family was made by Brown
(1814), who recognized two different spikelet types between the Panicoideae and Pooideae (Festucoideae) subfamilies. Bentham (1881) recognized 13 tribes in two major subfamilies. This classification using two subfamilies was adopted by most agrostologists for
almost 150 years until more modern syntheses. With the infusion of molecular data, the
present concept and classification of the grasses is changing at a rapid rate. We follow the
grass classification presented in Soreng et al. (2017a, 2017b) and Peterson et al. (2017),
which consists of ±11,506 species in 768 genera found in 12 subfamilies, 52 tribes, and
94 subtribes. We provide a synopsis of the classification for all grass genera that occur
in Mali.
The most accurate way to identify grasses is to use floral characteristics. However,
it is often necessary to identify grasses without having mature plants or only portions of
those plants without complete spikelets. Under such conditions conventional botanical
manuals offer little assistance. Moreover, identification using floral characteristics requires special training in grass taxonomy that is not available to most agronomists, technical field staff, and/or interested amateurs. Vegetative characters can be used for plant
identification until a flowering specimen is obtained for positive verification. Vegetative
structures of the grasses are easily visible and do not require any tool except a pocket
hand lens (10−14×). Some vegetative characters are not particularly constant, so it is
important to use characters that are less mutable and subject to environmental influences.
A common name often can help collectors and field officers tentatively identify a
grass, particularly when local people have used a common name to describe a grass. Any
given species may have one or more common names. Two or more grass species may
have the same common name, and some species have no common name. Extensive local
names are reported in Poilecot (1995, 1999) in several languages used in western Africa.
This publication presents a key, available Mali and English common names, descriptions, illustrations, and a glossary for the identification of 199 native and naturalized
grasses that occur in Mali. Indexes to the common and scientific names are also included.
This list of species is primarily based on the Kew list of the grasses of Mali, which has
been updated. We have consulted many taxonomic treatments during the preparation
of this work; most notable are Bogdan (1977), Clayton (1970a, 1970b), Clayton and
Renvoize (1982), Clayton et al. (1974, 2006), Cope (1999, 2005), Freckman and Lelong (2003), Hatch (2003), Hilu (2003), Hitchcock (1951), Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988),
2
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Ibrahim et al. (2016), Michael (2003), Morrison (2007), Muller
(1984), Peterson (2003), Peterson et al. (2010, 2011, 2012,
2014a, 2014b, 2014c, 2014d, 2015, 2016), Romaschenko et
al. (2012), Rominger (2003), Rose Innes (1977), Saarela et al.
(2014), Schloz and Schloz (1983), Stanfield (1970), Townron
(1959), Wipff (2003a, 2003b), and Wipff and Thompson (2003).
The descriptions of each species are presented in alphabetical order. We use the accepted species names in the Catalogue of
New World Grasses (Soreng et al., 2017a) and consulted Quattrocchi (2006) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Natural
Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database to prepare the
list of common names. We follow a worldwide generic classification based principally on molecular DNA sequence studies (Soreng
et al., 2017b). Vegetative characteristics are used to construct the
key for identification. Diagrammatic illustrations are presented for
each species to emphasize the structural characteristics.
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS
The common grass habit for most species is an upright, cylindrical, rarely compressed culm (stem) anchored in the soil by
adventitious roots (Figure 1). The culm consists of nodes and
FIGURE 1. General morphology. A. Culm. B. Rhizome and stolon. C. Sheath, ligule, and blade.
NUMBER 108
internodes with leaves distichously arising from the nodes. The
inflorescence usually comprises numerous spikelets that are composed of one or more florets that contain the flower parts (pistil
and stamens). The general morphology of a grass is shown in
detail in Figures 1−8.
Roots.
The luxuriant fibrous root system anchors
the growing grass plant and comprises adventitious roots originating from the lower culm nodes (Figure 2). In some grasses
additional prop roots emerge from the lower culm nodes just
above ground level. Most grasses with geniculate culms root at
the lower nodes.
•
3
Rhizomes.
A rhizome is a more or less horizontal
underground stem whose leaves are reduced to scales. Eventually it emerges above the ground surface to form a new flowering
shoot or culm.
Stolons.
A stolon is a trailing or reclining, aboveground stem that produces roots and flowering shoots from its
nodes.
Culms.
The grass stem is known as a culm (Figure 1)
and consists of a series of internodes and nodes. The internodes
at the base of a culm are very short, whereas in the upper portion of a culm they extend to a considerable length. Internodes are
FIGURE 2. A. Growth forms. A. Erect. B. Geniculate. C. Prostrate. D. Decumbent.
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usually hollow but sometimes are solid, as in Saccharum, or filled
with white pith, as in Sorghum. The plant height varies considerably based on the stage of growth, environmental conditions, and
the species genetic makeup. Culms are mostly glabrous, particularly the sections enveloped by the leaf sheaths. Nodes vary, and in
some species they are hairy, whereas in others they are glabrous.
Branching is from the buds situated below the leaf sheath
at the nodes. Branching usually occurs at basal nodes only, or
from basal, middle, and upper nodes. If the shoot initial remains
within the sheath that envelops the node, the branching is intravaginal. If the shoot initial grows laterally in a manner that ruptures the enveloping sheath, the branching habit is extravaginal.
Branches from the base of the plant are known as tillers.
Leaves.
A grass leaf is divided into the following
parts: the leaf sheath (at the base) and the blade, also known as
the lamina.
Sheaths.
The leaf sheath originates at a node and
protects the growing zone of the internode and structurally
strengthens the culm. Sheaths are usually open and sometimes
split with overlapping margins, or sheaths are closed with margins fused for all or part of their length. The sheath may be
compressed or round, or occasionally keeled at the midrib. In
some species, sheaths are longer than the blades, and in a few
species they are longer than the adjacent internodes. Usually
sheaths are of a paler shade of green than the blades and often
are tinged with pink or purple at the base. They also are tinted
with darker color near the blades. The tints are not consistent
enough to be of much value in identification. Presence or absence of hairs on the sheath margins, surface, and the junction
with the blade is an important characteristic for use in the identification (Figure 3).
Auricles.
An auricle is an appendage that projects
from each side of the collar that marks the division between the
sheath and blade. Auricles may be horizontally clawed, rudimentary, or fully or slightly rounded. Most species do not possess
auricles (Figure 3).
FIGURE 3. Types of sheaths, auricles, and collars.
NUMBER 108
Ligules.
A ligule is a tissue clasping the stem or bud
shoots inside the leaf at the junction of the blade and sheath on
the adaxial (adjacent) surface. Ligules are usually present, and
they may be simply a fringe of hairs, membranous or hyaline,
ciliolate or ciliate membrane, or absent. The length of ligules
may vary within a species (Figure 4). The shape and margin are
usually quite constant, and they provide reliable distinguishing
characteristics for identification.
Collars.
The collar is found at the junction between
the blade and the sheath (Figure 3). It may be vertically broad or
narrow, continuous, or divided by a midrib. If the collar extends
diagonally it is referred to as oblique. Collars are usually smooth
FIGURE 4. Ligule types, shapes, and margins.
•
5
but may be hairy over the whole surface or only on the inner and
lowermost portion of the margin. Collars are usually green or
yellowish-green and may be tinged with yellow or red.
Blades.
The blade or lamina is the upper portion of
the leaf above the collar, ligule, and auricle. There is considerable variation in the length and the width of the blades and the
ratio between these two characteristics is useful for identification (Figures 5, 6). Blades are usually linear to lanceolate, but in
some species blades are filiform or ovate. There is a great deal
of variation among species in the shape of the blade apex and
base and hairiness of the upper and lower surfaces and margins.
Blade venation is usually parallel, although sometimes there
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FIGURE 5. Leaf blade apices, bases, and margins.
are evident cross veins. Frequently, there are considerable differences between blades from the upper and lower parts of the
same plant and between blades taken from different plants of the
same species.
Reproductive Structures.
The spikelet is the
characteristic floral structure in grasses. In most of the grass
species, the inflorescence comprises numerous spikelets that are
aligned in different sequences. In this study, the different types of
inflorescences, spikelet shapes, and awn types are included. In the
vegetative key no reference is made to the detailed spikelet parts.
Inflorescences.
Different inflorescence types are
distinguished by the presence or absence of pedicels and the
branching of the main axis. Aside from the basic forms of a spike,
raceme, and panicle, there are many subtypes (Figures 7, 8).
Spikes.
In a spike, the spikelets are attached directly
(sessile) to the unbranched main axis without pedicels. Most
members of the tribe Triticeae have this type of inflorescence.
Racemes.
A raceme is an unbranched inflorescence
with each spikelet borne on a single pedicel directly on the axis.
This type of inflorescence is rare in the grasses, but there are
many species in which more than one raceme is found in the
inflorescence; this arrangement is then technically referred to as
a panicle.
Panicles.
An inflorescence in which the main axis has
several lateral, whorled, or individual indeterminate branches,
each branch terminating in a pedicellate spikelet. A true panicle
does not have any leaf sheaths within the inflorescence. A rame is
a compound inflorescence in the tribe Andropogoneae consisting
NUMBER 108
•
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FIGURE 6. Leaf blade characteristics.
of one to many units (branches) of one sessile and one or two
pedicellate spikelets. This arrangement is typical of the Andropogoneae, and in many of the older published floras was referred
to as “racemes.”
deciduous forest, 23,508 ha of agriculture, 70,631 ha of bare
soil, and only 66 ha of wetlands (Mayaux et al., 2004).
VEGETATION
Descriptions.
The grass descriptions were recorded from plant specimens at the United States National
Herbarium (US), Department of Botany, National Museum of
Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; the Cairo University
Herbarium (CAI); and a few specimens on loan from Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew (K), United Kingdom. Information from
these specimens was verified with the descriptions of species reported in the references. Each description includes the complete
scientific name (with authorities and place of publication) and
The five major vegetation zones in Mali are depicted on a
vegetation map (Figure 9). The desert zone in northern Mali has
very little vegetation because it lies in the Sahara Desert, which
has scant rainfall. Grasses dominate the semidesert, steppe,
and brush-grass savannah zones, especially Cenchrus biflorus.
A global land cover map of Mali indicates 29,737 ha of open
to sparse grassland and shrubland, 749 ha of woodland or
IDENTIFICATION
8
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 7. Inflorescence types.
common name(s), if known. Introduced species are marked with
an asterisk (*), and native species are unmarked.
Illustrations.
Plant illustrations used in this study
were drawn from herbarium plant specimens and verified against
illustrations appearing in serveral references. Several illustrations
were redrawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988) after observing
Bogdan’s plant collection at the National Agriculture Research
Station (NARS), Kitale, Kenya, in 1985.
Because this publication deals only with grasses, it is necessary to differentiate between true grasses and other grasslike species, which can be confused in natural conditions. True grasses
belong to the grass family Poaceae and not the sedge family (Cyperaceae) or the rush family (Juncaceae). Their leaves are tworanked and arise at solid conspicuous nodes along hollow stems
(culms), which are circular in cross section. A leaf comprises a
blade and a sheath surrounding the culm and open down the
side in most cases to the base. Commonly, the top of the sheath
has a membranous projection (ligule) pressed against the culm.
Sometimes the ligule is represented by a fringe of hairs or a shallow rim. In other cases, it is absent. In contrast to grasses, the
majority of sedges have solid stems that are mostly triangular in
cross section. The base of the leaf usually forms a closed sheath
NUMBER 108
•
9
FIGURE 8. Inflorescence and spikelet characteristics: a. spikelet; b. lemma; c. upper glume;
d. lower glume; e. pedicel; f, palea; g, anther; h, stigma; i, filament; j, ovary; k, lodicule; l, grain;
m, rachilla; n, awn; o, raceme; p, peduncle; q, spatheole; r, spathe; s, single straight awn; t, single
geniculated awn; u, twisted divided awn.
around the stem, and there is no ligule. However, sometimes
there is a projection at the top of the sheath, opposite the leaf
blade, instead of between the blade and the culm as with grass
species. Rushes have solid stems and are usually round in cross
section, and the nodes are indistinct. The leaves of rushes are
usually three-ranked and usually not stiff, ligules are absent or
weakly developed, and auricles are absent.
Keys.
Because we are dealing with 199 grasses in
Mali, the keys have been constructed to make use of easily visible characteristics. The only additional aids necessary are a short
metric scale graduated in millimeters and a hand lens with a
magnification of 10−14×. The identification key is composed of
two parts: a key to major groups and then keys to each group.
Although many readers are familiar with the use of a dichotomous key, a note on how to use one seems appropriate here. The
key contains a series of two contrasting statements. Start with
the beginning of the key and read both groups of characteristics
in couplet 1. Then decide which group fits the specimen best and
note the number following the group. Proceed to the couplet with
that number and repeat the process. Read each half of every couplet carefully before deciding which description best fits the specimen. Following this pattern, you will arrive at the stop in the key
10
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 9. Vegetation map of Mali. Redrawn from a map available from the Perry-Castañeda Library Collection by Alice Tangerini.
NUMBER 108
where a species name appears at the end of a half couplet. Turn to
the text for a description and illustration of the species, which are
arranged alphabetically. In using the key you may need to refer to
the glossary, which immediately follows the descriptions.
SYNOPSIS
The following list is a synopsis of the classification of the
genera into subfamily, tribe, and subtribe for the grasses of Mali.
Subfamily Aristidoideae
Tribe Aristideae: Aristida, Stipagrostis
Subfamily Arundinoideae
Tribe Molinieae
Subtribe Crinipinae: Elytrophorus
Subtribe Molininae: Phragmites
Subfamily Bambusoideae
Tribe Bambuseae
Subtribe Bambusinae: Bambusa, Oxytenanthera
Subfamily Chloridoideae
Tribe Cynodonteae
Subtribe Cteniinae: Ctenium
Subtribe Dactylocteniinae: Acrachne, Dactyloctenium
Subtribe Eleusininae: Chloris, Chrysochloa,
Coelachyrum, Cynodon, Dinebra, Eleusine,
Micrachne, Microchloa, Schoenefeldia, Stapfochloa,
Tetrapogon
Subtribe Hubbardochloinae: Leptothrium
Subtribe Tripogoninae: Oropetium, Tripogonella
Subtribe Traginae: Tragus
Tribe Eragrostideae
Subtribe Cotteinae: Enneapogon
Subtribe Eragrostidinae: Eragrostis
Tribe Zoysieae
Subtribe Sporobolinae: Sporobolus
Subfamily Oryzoideae
Tribe Oryzeae
Subtribe Oryzinae: Leersia, Oryza
Subfamily Panicoideae
Tribe Andropogoneae: Chrysopogon, Sehima
Subtribe Andropogoninae: Anadelphia, Andropogon,
Cymbopogon, Dichanthium, Diectomis,
Diheteropogon, Elymandra, Hyparrhenia,
Hyperthelia, Parahyparrhenia, Schizachyrium,
Themeda
•
11
Subtribe Arthraxoninae: Arthraxon
Subtribe Coicinae: Coix
Subtribe Ischaeminae: Ischaemum
Subtribe Rottboelliinae: Hackelochloa, Hemarthria,
Lasiurus, Rottboellia
Subtribe Saccharinae: Euclasta, Imperata,
Sorghastrum, Sorghum
Subtribe Tripsacinae: Elionurus, Rhytachne, Urelytrum,
Vossia, Zea
Tribe Arundinelleae: Arundinella
Tribe Paniceae: Sacciolepis, Trichanthecium
Subtribe Anthephorinae: Anthephora, Digitaria
Subtribe Boivinellinae: Acroceras, Alloteropsis,
Echinochloa, Oplismenus
Subtribe Cenchrinae: Cenchrus, Setaria
Subtribe Melinidinae: Eriochloa, Tricholaena, Urochloa
Subtribe Panicinae: Panicum
Tribe Paspaleae
Subtribe Paspalinae: Paspalum
Tribe Tristachyideae: Dilophotriche Loudetia,
Loudetiopsis, Tristachya
Subfamily Pooideae
Tribe Triticeae: Triticum
Tribe Poeae
Subtribe Aveninae: Avena
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank the United States National Herbarium, Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution for allowing the first author work space; the
staff of Cairo University Herbarium in Giza; Robert J. Soreng
at the United States National Herbarium for providing valuable
information from the Catalogue of New World Grasses (Poaceae). We thank also Kitt Repass for preparing the illustrations
and revising a few initial drawings made by Dhan Bhandari,
Magdalena Sundnik, H. Nevin, and Margaret Moss. In addition, we give special thanks to Magen Nishida and James Harle
for their extensive help with Photoshop. The authors are especially grateful to the illustrator Alice Tangerini for her help with
Photoshop, to Department of Botany Librarian Robin Everly
for help in searching for references and to Nahed Elhusseini and
Maria Vorontsova for their many helpful comments that improved the manuscript.
Vegetative Key to the Grasses of Mali
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
13a.
13b.
14a.
14b.
15a.
15b.
16a.
16b.
17a.
17b.
18a.
18b.
Culms bamboo, woody or reedlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 1
Culms not bamboo, woody or reedlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Plants mat forming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 2
Plants not mat forming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Auricles present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 3
Auricles not present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Stolons present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 4
Stolons absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf blade margins cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 5
Leaf blade margins not cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade bases cordate or amplexicaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 6
Leaf blade bases not cordate or amplexicaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blade apices abruptly acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 7
Leaf blade apices not abruptly acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf blade apices obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 8
Leaf blade apices not obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Leaf blade bases narrower than sheath apex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 9
Leaf blade bases not narrower than sheath apex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Culms wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 10
Culms not wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 11
Rhizomes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Culm nodes hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 12
Culm nodes not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Culm lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 13
Culm lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Oral hair ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 14
Oral hair not ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Leaf blade apices attenuate or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 15
Leaf blade apices not attenuate or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Leaf blade midrib conspicuous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 16
Leaf blade midrib not conspicuous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 17
Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ligules eciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 18
Ligules ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
14
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
GROUP 1. CULMS BAMBOO, WOODY OR REEDLIKE
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
Bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Not bamboo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Auricles present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (30) Bambusa vulgaris
Auricles absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (128) Oxytenanthera abyssinica
Culms reedlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Culms woody not reedlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ligules ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (140) Phragmites karka
Ligules not ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ligules eciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (51) Cymbopogon caesius
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (77) Echinochloa pyramidalis
Rhizomes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (115) Loudetia phragmitoides
Lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (88) Eragrostis barteri
Lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf blades coriaceous, stiff, apex pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (136) Panicum turgidum
Leaf blades soft, apex not pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (25) Aristida sieberiana
GROUP 2. MAT FORMING
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
Leaf blades lanceolate/ovate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (27) Arthraxon lancifolius
Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf blades convolute, apex pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (170) Sporobolus spicatus
Leaf blades conduplicate or flat surface, apex not pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culms spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (198) Vossia cuspidata
Culms not spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (157) Setaria geminata
Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ligules eciliate or ciliolate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ligules not ciliate or ciliolate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (53) Cynodon dactylon
Rhizomes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (54) Dactyloctenium aegyptium
Culms lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (139) Paspalum scrobiculatum
Culms lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ligules apices acute, leaf blades flat linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (69) Digitaria longiflora
Ligules apices erose, leaf blades involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (122) Oropetium aristatum
GROUP 3. AURICLE PRESENT
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
Leaf blade bases with false petiole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (126) Oryza longistaminata
Leaf blade bases without false petiole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Culms lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culms lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Culms spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (124) Oryza barthii
Culms not spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (125) Oryza brachyantha
Ligules acute or acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (127) Oryza sativa
Ligules not acute or acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf blades chartaceous, plicated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (185) Triticum aestivum
Leaf blades not chartaceous, plicated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Rhizomes present, short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (105) Hyparrhenia cyanescens
Rhizomes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Oral hairs ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (7) Andropogon canaliculatus
Oral hairs lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Auricles continuous with ligules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (138) Parahyparrhenia annua
NUMBER 108
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
•
Auricles not continuous with ligules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Leaf blade bases tapering toward midrib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8) Andropogon chevalieri
Leaf blade bases not tapering toward midrib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (108) Hyperthelia dissoluta
Leaf blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Ligules erose, leaf blade apices filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (13) Andropogon pseudapricus
Ligules lacerate, leaf blade apices acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (12) Andropogon perligulatus
GROUP 4. STOLONS PRESENT
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
Rhizomes present, elongated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (134) Panicum repens
Rhizomes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf blade surfaces and margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (191) Urochloa mutica
Leaf blade surfaces and margins not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culms prostrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (104) Hemarthria altissima
Culms not prostrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ligules not eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ligules lacerate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (55) Dichanthium annulatum
Ligules acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (70) Digitaria nuda
Ligules ciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf blade apices attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (39) Chloris gayana
Leaf blade apices obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (43) Chrysochloa hindsii
Culms lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (194) Urochloa stigmatisata
Culms lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Leaf blades spreading, convolute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (173) Stipagrostis acutiflora
Leaf blades ascending, conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (166) Sporobolus ioclados
GROUP 5. LEAF BLADE MARGIN CARTILAGINOUS
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
Culms prostrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (59) Digitaria aristulata
Culms not prostrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf blade bases cordate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (190) Urochloa lata
Leaf blade bases not cordate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (15) Anthephora pubescens
Ligules ciliate membranes or a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blades filiform, wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) Acrachne racemosa
Leaf blades not filiform, wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ligules ciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (64) Digitaria delicata
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (166) Sporobolus ioclados
Leaf blade margins not glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Culm lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (194) Urochloa stigmatisata
Culm lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf blade bases broadly rounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) Alloteropsis paniculata
Leaf blade bases tapering toward midrib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (196) Urochloa villosa
GROUP 6. LEAF BLADE BASES CORDATE OR AMPLEXICAULE
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
Culms prostrate, wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (131) Panicum callosum
Culms not prostrate, not wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ligules ciliate or ciliolate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (103) Hackelochloa granularis
Ligules not ciliate or ciliolate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
15
16
•
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Nodes pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (195) Urochloa trichopus
Nodes glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (32) Cenchrus biflorus
Culm lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) Acroceras amplectens
Culm lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade apices attenuate, culms with prop roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (51) Cymbopogon caesius
Leaf blade apices attenuate, culms without prop roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blades lanceolate, ligule truncate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (47) Coix lacryma-jobi
Leaf blades linear, ligule obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (72) Diheteropogon hagerupii
GROUP 7. LEAF BLADE APEX ABRUPTLY ACUTE
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
Culms wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (120) Microchloa indica
Culms not wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf blade bases narrower than sheath apex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) Andropogon africanus
Leaf blade bases the same width as sheath apex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culms robust prop rooted, leaf blades sharply scabrid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (151) Schizachyrium ruderale
Culms not robust nor prop rooted, leaf blades smooth to finely scabrid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Culm internodes elliptical in section, blades conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (80) Eleusine indica
Culm internodes not elliptical in section, blades flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (153) Schizachyrium sanguineum
GROUP 8. LEAF BLADE APEX OBTUSE
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ligules not eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culm nodes pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (28) Arundinella nepalensis
Culm nodes glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (147) Schizachyrium brevifolium
Leaf blade margins pubescent, perennials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (123) Oropetium capense
Leaf blade margins glabrous, annuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blades spreading, sheath surfaces glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (176) Tetrapogon cenchriformis
Leaf blades ascending, sheath surfaces scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (120) Microchloa indica
GROUP 9. LEAF BLADE BASE NARROWER THAN SHEATH APEX
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
Leaf blades plicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (156) Setaria barbata
Leaf blades not plicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (105) Hyparrhenia cyanescens
Rhizomes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Oral hairs ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (22) Aristida mutabilis
Oral hair lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blades lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (14) Andropogon tectorum
Leaf blades linear or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf blades conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (146) Sacciolepis micrococca
Leaf blades flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade apices attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (155) Sehima ischaemoides
Leaf blade apices acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ligules ciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (137) Panicum walense
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117) Loudetia simplex
Leaf blade apex acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (13) Andropogon pseudapricus
Leaf blade apices acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Culms unbranched, ligule apices acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10) Andropogon gayanus
Culms branched, ligule apices erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (57) Diectomis fastigiata
NUMBER 108
•
GROUP 10. CULMS WIRY
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
Culm lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Culm lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culms prostrate, leaf blade margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (181) Trichanthecium parvifolium
Culms decumbent, leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (68) Digitaria leptorachis
Culm nodes pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (84) Enneapogon persicus
Culm nodes glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ligule a fringe of hairs or ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade apex acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (49) Ctenium newtonii
Leaf blade apex acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (130) Panicum antidotale
Culm internodes hairy, leaf sheath keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (33) Cenchrus ciliaris
Culm internodes glabrous, leaf sheath not keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (165) Sporobolus helvolus
Rhizomes absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ligule a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ligule not fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Leaf blades filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (23) Aristida recta
Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (113) Leptothrium senegalense
Leaf blades spreading, culms geniculately ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (56) Dichanthium foveolatum
Leaf blades ascending, culms erect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leaf blade apices pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (19) Aristida funiculata
Leaf blade apices not pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous, perennials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (183) Tripogonella minima
Leaf sheath surfaces scabrous, annuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (120) Microchloa indica
GROUP 11. RHIZOMES PRESENT
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
Rhizomes scaly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (111) Lasiurus scindicus
Rhizomes not scaly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Culms wiry, internodes hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (33) Cenchrus ciliaris
Culms not wiry, internodes not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culm internodes solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (106) Hyparrhenia rufa
Culm internodes not solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blades distichous, coriaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (134) Panicum repens
Leaf blades not distichous or coriaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf blade apex hardened, almost pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (132) Panicum fluviicola
Leaf blade apex not hardened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade apex attenuate or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blade apex not attenuate or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (112) Leersia hexandra
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (184) Tristachya superba
Leaf blade margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (109) Imperata cylindrica
Leaf blade margins not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ligules ciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Ligules not ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leaf blade bases narrower than sheath apex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (129) Panicum anabaptistum
Leaf blade bases broadly rounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (145) Sacciolepis chevalieri
Culm nodes pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (110) Ischaemum polystachyum
Culm nodes not pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Culms spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Culms not spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
17
18
•
13a.
13b.
14a.
14b.
15a.
15b.
16a.
16b.
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
Ligules fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (78) Echinochloa stagnina
Ligule eciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (144) Sacciolepis africana
Collars white in color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (159) Setaria sphacelata var. anceps
Collars not white in color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (161) Sorghastrum stipoides
Ligules not eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Culms very slender, awns straight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (44) Chrysopogon fulvibarbis
Culms somewhat spreading, awns flexuous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (45) Chrysopogan nigritanus
GROUP 12. CULM NODES HAIRY
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
13a.
13b.
Culm lower nodes rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (63) Digitaria delicatula
Culm lower nodes not rooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Culm internodes hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culm internodes not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Culms erect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (55) Dichanthium annulatum
Culms decumbent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (20) Aristida hordeacea
Ligules eciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ligules not eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Culms geniculately ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (60) Digitaria barbinodis
Culms erect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (81) Elionurus elegans
Leaf blade bases broadly rounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (195) Urochloa trichopus
Leaf blade bases not broadly rounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blades lanceolate/linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (192) Urochloa orthostachys
Leaf blades not lanceolate/linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ligules not fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Leaf blades flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (169) Sporobolus pyramidalis
Leaf blades involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (118) Loudetiopsis kerstingii
Leaf blades flaccid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (66) Digitaria fragilis
Leaf blades not flaccid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leaf blade surfaces scarbid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (24) Aristida rhiniochloa
Leaf blade surfaces not scarbid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Leaf blade bases narrowed, butt sheaths woolly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (116) Loudetia simplex
Leaf blade bases barely rounded, butt sheaths not woolly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Leaf sheaths glabrous, perennials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (177) Themeda triandra
Leaf sheaths involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (114) Loudetia hordeiformis
GROUP 13. CULM LOWER NODES ROOTING
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
Culm internodes elliptical in section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (79) Eleusine africana
Culm internodes not elliptical in section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf blades ribbed or plicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (156) Setaria barbata
Leaf blades not ribbed or plicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Basal innovation present, subterete or flabellate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (42) Chloris virgata
Basal innovation absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blades ovate, lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf blades not ovate, lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (181) Trichanthecium parvifolium
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (121) Oplismenus hirtellus
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ligules not fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf sheath margins glabrous, culm nodes dark color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (187) Urochloa arrecta
Leaf sheath margins hairy, culm nodes not dark color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (191) Urochloa mutica
NUMBER 108
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
•
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (16) Aristida adscensionis
Leaf blade margins not glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ligules ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Ligules eciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leaf sheaths keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (172) Stapfochloa lamproparia
Leaf sheaths not keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (40) Chloris pilosa
Culms prostrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (102) Euclasta condylotricha
Culms erect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Leaf blades with distinctive white midrib ½ its length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (58) Digitaria acuminatissima
Leaf blades without distinctive midrib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (74) Dinebra coerulescens
GROUP 14. ORAL HAIR CILIATE
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10a.
11a.
11a.
12a.
12b.
13a.
13b.
14a.
14b.
15a.
15a.
16a.
16a.
17a.
17b.
Ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ligules ciliate membranes or a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blade bases narrower than sheath apex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (7) Andropogon canaliculatus
Leaf blade bases not narrower than sheath apex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Ligules 6−8 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (29) Avena sativa
Ligule 3 mm long or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (107) Hyparrhenia subplumosa
Leaf blade margins glandular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (89) Eragrostis cilianensis
Leaf blade margins not glandular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf blade apices pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (173) Stipagrostis acutiflora
Leaf blade apices not pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade base cordate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (32) Cenchrus biflorus
Leaf blade base not cordate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Culms usually 1−3 m tall, robust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Culms usually less than 1 m tall, not robust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Culms solitary, ligules ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (163) Sorghum bicolor
Culms caespitose, ligules fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (31) Cenchrus americanus
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leaf blades spreading, margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (21) Aristida kunthiana
Leaf blades ascending, margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (26) Aristida stipoides
Basal innovations present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (186) Urelytrum muricatum
Basal innovations absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Leaf blade apex attenuate/filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Leaf blade apex acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Culms erect, collars whitein color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (82) Elymandra androphila
Culms geniculately ascending, collars not white in color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (91) Eragrostis gangetica
Leaf blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Leaf sheath slightly compressed, ribbed, flaccid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (90) Eragrostis ciliaris
Leaf sheath not compressed, not ribbed, stiff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (85) Eragrostis aegyptiaca
Perennials, leaf blades apex attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (87) Eragrostis atrovirens
Annuals, leaf blades apex acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Ligules less than 0.5 mm long, culms slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (98) Eragrostis tenella
Ligules 1–2 mm long, culms not slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (94) Eragrostis pilosa
GROUP 15. LEAF BLADE APEX ATTENUATE OR FILIFORM
Ligules fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUBGROUP A
Ligules membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUBGROUP B
Ligules ciliate or ciliolate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUBGROUP C
19
20
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
SUBGROUP 15A
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
Leaf blades spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (175) Stipagrostis uniplumis
Leaf blades not spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Collars white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (168) Sporobolus pectinellus
Collars not white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (164) Sporobolus festivus
SUBGROUP 15B
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
Leaf blades chartaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (52) Cymbopogon schoenanthus
Leaf blades not chartaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Collars white color, perennials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (82) Elymandra androphila
Collars not white color, annuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culms robust with prop roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (51) Cymbopogon caesius
Culms not robust and without prop roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Culms erect, slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (135) Panicum tenellum
Culms geniculately ascending, not slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf sheath margins hairy, blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (48) Ctenium elegans
Leaf sheath margins glabrous, blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (50) Ctenium villosum
SUBGROUP 15C
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
13a.
13b.
Leaf sheaths keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (21) Aristida hordeacea
Leaf sheaths not keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) Anadelphia afzeliana
Leaf sheath surfaces not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Leaf blades spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (97) Eragrostis tremula
Leaf blades ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blades chartaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (154) Schoenefeldia gracilis
Leaf blades not chartaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf blades coriaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (96) Eragrostis prolifera
Leaf blades not coriaceous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blade surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11) Andropogon ivorensis
Leaf blade surfaces not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blade surfaces puberulous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (142) Rhytachne triaristata
Leaf blade surfaces not puberulous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (40) Chloris pilosa
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Leaf sheath ribbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (141) Rhytachne rottboellioides
Leaf sheath not ribbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Collars white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (87) Eragrostis atrovirens
Collars not white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leaf blades involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (119) Micrachne obtusiflora
Leaf blades not involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Leaf blades conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (146) Sacciolepis micrococca
Leaf blades not conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Culms slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (18) Aristida diminuta
Culms not slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (17) Aristida cumingiana var. uniseta
GROUP 16. LEAF BLADE MIDRIB CONSPICUOUS
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
Ligules absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (76) Echinochloa colona
Ligules present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf blades spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (86) Eragrostis aspera
Leaf blades not spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
NUMBER 108
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
•
Ligules ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (148) Schizachyrium exile
Ligules not ciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf blade margins glabrous, ligules apex erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (108) Hyperthelia dissoluta
Leaf blade margins scabrous, ligules apex acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ligules eciliate membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (62) Digitaria debilis
Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf sheath margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (117) Loudetia togoensis
Leaf sheath margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (188) Urochloa deflexa
GROUP 17. LIGULES FRINGE OF HAIRS
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
13a.
13b.
14a.
14b.
15a.
15b.
16a.
16b.
Leaf blades conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (75) Echinochloa callopus
Leaf blades not conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Leaf sheaths conspicuously keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (37) Cenchrus prieurii
Leaf sheaths not conspicuously keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Butt sheaths investing base of culm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (164) Sporobolus festivus
Butt sheaths not investing base of culm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf sheath ribbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaf sheath not ribbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (92) Eragrostis japonica
Leaf blades filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (174) Stipagrostis hirtigluma
Leaf blades chartaceous, margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blades not chartaceous, not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf blades lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (178) Tragus berteronianus
Leaf blades linear/lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (179) Tragus racemosus
Culms slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Culms not slender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Culm nodes dark color, perennials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (73) Dilophotriche tristachyoides
Culm nodes not dark color, annuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (18) Aristida diminuta
Leaf blades convolute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (168) Sporobolus pectinellus
Leaf blades flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Leaf blade margins tuberculate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (167) Sporobolus microprotus
Leaf blade margins not tuberculate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Leaf sheath margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (101) Eriochloa fatmensis
Leaf sheath margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (189) Urochloa jubata
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Culm nodes dark color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (38) Cenchrus violaceus
Culm nodes not dark color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Leaf blade bases cordate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (197) Urochloa xantholeuca
Leaf blade bases not cordate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Leaf blades lanceolate, bases broadly rounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (193) Urochloa ramosa
Leaf blades linear, bases simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (171) Sporobolus stolzii
GROUP 18. LIGULES ECILIATE MEMBRANE
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
Plants monoecious, culm internodes solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (199) Zea mays
Plants not monoecious, culm internodes not solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Culm internodes elliptical in section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (80) Eleusine indica
Culm internodes terete in section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Basal innovations present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Basal innovations absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Basal innovations flabellate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (149) Schizachyrium gresicola
Basal innovations extravaginal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (51) Cymbopogon caesius
21
22
•
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
Leaf bases broadly rounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (67) Digitaria gayana
Leaf bases simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Collars white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (61) Digitaria ciliaris
Collars not white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blades spreading, surfaces glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (182) Trichoneura mollis
Leaf blades ascending, surfaces not glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (46) Coelachyrum brevifolium
Leaf blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ligules apex lacerate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (83) Elytrophorus spicatus
Ligules apex erose or acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Leaf blade surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (150) Schizachyrium nodulosum
Leaf blade surfaces glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Culms slender, ligules apex acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (71) Digitaria ternata
Culms not slender, ligules apex erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (65) Digitaria exilis
GROUP 19. LIGULES CILIATE OR CILIOLATE MEMBRANE
1a.
1b.
2a.
2b.
3a.
3b.
4a.
4b.
5a.
5b.
6a.
6b.
7a.
7b.
8a.
8b.
9a.
9b.
10a.
10b.
11a.
11b.
12a.
12b.
13a.
13b.
14a.
14b.
15a.
15b.
16a.
16b.
17a.
17b.
18a.
18b.
Butt sheaths woolly or pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (116) Loudetia simplex
Butt sheaths not woolly or pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Culms robust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Culms not robust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Leaf margins glabrous, perennials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (132) Panicum fluviicola
Leaf margins hairy, annuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (131) Panicum callosum
Culm internodes striate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (160) Setaria verticillata
Culm internodes not striate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Collars white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Collars not white color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (100) Eragrostis turgida
Leaf blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (40) Chloris pilosa
Culms soft or spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (145) Sacciolepis chevalieri
Culms not soft or spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Culm internodes pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Culm internodes glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Leaf sheath surfaces scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (38) Cenchrus violaceus
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (20) Aristida hordeacea
Butt sheaths persisting and investing base of culms, compacted dead sheaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Butt sheaths not investing base of culms, without compacted dead sheaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Basal innovations flabellate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9) Andropogon festuciformis
Basal innovations subterete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (180) Trichanthecium brazzavillense
Leaf blades conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (143) Rottboellia afraurita
Leaf blades not conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Culms disarticulate at the nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (16) Aristida adscensionis
Culms not disarticulate at the nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Leaf blades spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (41) Chloris prieurii
Leaf blades ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Leaf sheath ribbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Leaf sheath not ribbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Leaf blades reflexed or drooping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (97) Eragrostis squamata
Leaf blades straight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (158) Setaria pumila
Leaf blades involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (95) Eragrostis plurigluma
Leaf blades not involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Leaf blades linear-lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (133) Panicum laetum
Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
NUMBER 108
19a.
19b.
20a.
20b.
21a.
21b.
22a.
22b.
23a.
23b.
24a.
24b.
25a.
25b.
26a.
26b.
•
Culms with prop roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Culms without prop roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Culms erect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (35) Cenchrus pedicellatus
Culms geniculately ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (162) Sorghum arundinaceum
Culm nodes dark color, butt sheaths with white hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (152) Schizachyrium rupestre
Culm nodes not dark color, butt sheaths without white hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Leaf sheath surfaces not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy all their length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (34) Cenchrus hordeoides
Leaf sheath surfaces hairy ⅓ their length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (93) Eragrostis lingulata
Leaf blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Culms erect, unbranched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) Anadelphia leptocoma
Culms geniculately ascending, ample branching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (36) Cenchrus polystachios subsp. atrichus
Leaf blade margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (17) Aristida cumingiana var. uniseta
Leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (177) Themeda triandra
23
Descriptions
1. Acrachne racemosa
(B. Heyne ex Roem. & Schult.) Ohwi
FIGURE 10
Acrachne racemosa (B. Heyne ex Roem. & Schult.) Ohwi, Bull.
Tokyo Sci. Mus. 18: 1. 1947.
Common name: goosegrass.
Caespitose or solitary, annuals. Culms up to 75 cm tall,
weak, slender, geniculately ascending or decumbent; internodes
glabrous; nodes dark, pubescent or bearded, occasionally rooting
below; butt sheaths papery, glabrous, and sparsely hairy. Leaves
mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous; collars glabrous or bearded;
ligules 0.8−1.5 mm long, a ciliolate membrane; blades 13–27 cm
long, 0.3–1.2 cm wide, flat, glabrous or sparsely hairy with
slightly scabrid margins, cartilaginous, bases broadly rounded,
apex attenuate to filiform. Inflorescences composed of racemes,
digitate or subdigitately arranged, spikelets appressed, biseriate;
racemes 1.5−10 cm long. Spikelets 5.5–13 mm long, 2.5–3 mm
wide, 8−16-flowered, laterally compressed, breaking up at maturity; lemma mucronate, the mucro 0.3–0.9 mm long, apical,
straight, clearly exserted from spikelets, without a column. Distribution: Africa, temperate Asia, tropical Asia, and Australasia.
2. Acroceras amplectens Stapf
FIGURE 11
Acroceras amplectens Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 625. 1920.
Common names: diivoonu, niari; Jaieo millet.
Annual herbs with well-developed roots. Culms 30–100 cm
long, weak, decumbent; internodes glabrous; rooting from lower
nodes. Leaves cauline; sheaths open, hairy; ligules 0.5 mm long,
eciliate membrane, apex entire or absent; blades 4–20 cm long,
3–10 mm wide, linear, flat, glabrous, without cross veins or
FIGURE 10. Acrachne racemosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988),
N. El Hadidi & A. Khattab s.n. (CAI); B drawn from L. Snook 9899
(US-3427880), G. Sockoon 1408 (US-2461138).
26
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 12. Alloteropsis paniculata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from R. Germain 591 (US-2823510); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
FIGURE 11. Acroceras amplectens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from G. A. K Adesi 435
(US-2209003).
with obscure cross veins, bases cordate, or amplexicaul, margins slightly scabrid, apex acuminate. Inflorescences composed
of racemes. Racemes 3–12 cm long, 4–6 in number, borne along
central axis, distant, unilateral. Spikelets 4.5–6 mm long, falling
entire, lax, in pairs, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
Annuals. Culms up to 100 cm high, solitary or in scanty fascicles, erect or geniculately ascending; internodes glabrous, finely
striate; often rooting from the lower nodes; simple or very sparingly
branched below. Leaves cauline; sheaths loose, much longer than
blades, glabrous and smooth or shortly hispidulous; ligules reduced
to ciliate rim; blades 5–15 cm long, 0.4–1 cm wide, midrib whitish
indistinct, lanceolate, scabrous with cartilaginous margins, bases cordate or subcordate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences 9–20 cm long, a
fastigiate panicle of whorled or upward scattered racemes. Spikelets
3.5–4.5 mm long, clustered in pairs at each node, elliptic, dorsally
compressed, falling entire; principal lemma awns 2.5–7 mm long, apical, straight. Distribution: tropical Africa and western Indian Ocean.
3. Alloteropsis paniculata (Benth.) Stapf
4. Anadelphia afzeliana (Rendle) Stapf
FIGURE 12
FIGURE 13
Alloteropsis paniculata (Benth.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9(3): 486.
1919 [24 Jan 1919].
Common names: hori, subu.
Anadelphia afzeliana (Rendle) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 397. 1919.
Common name: thatchgrass.
NUMBER 108
•
27
FIGURE 14. Anadelphia leptocoma. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from J. T. Baldwin
Jr. 5932 (US-2673014).
FIGURE 13. Anadelphia afzeliana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from G. A. Mensah
625 (US-2209107).
5. Anadelphia leptocoma (Trin.) Pilg.
FIGURE 14
Caespitose perennials. Culms 100–200 cm high, erect; internodes hirsute or bearded. Leaves cauline; sheaths glabrous,
softly hairy to villous with the exception of the glabrous bases;
ligules 1 mm long, ciliolate membrane; blades 10–25 cm long,
0.2–0.4 cm wide, midribs fine white, linear, flat, softly hirsute
to villous on both sides, margins slightly scabrid, bases simple and apex long–tapering to fine point. Racemes 2–3.5 cm
long, terminal and axillary, narrowly lanceolate, linear; subtended by spatheoles, scarious, sparingly hairy. Spikelets in
pairs, fertile spikelets 5–8 mm long, sterile spikelets 6–9 mm
long; principal lemma awns 25–40 mm long overall, from a
sinus, geniculate, with twisted column. Distribution: tropical
Africa.
Anadelphia leptocoma (Trin.) Pilg., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 284.
1917.
Common name: thatchgrass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 100–150 cm high, glabrous,
erect; nodes glabrous; branching from the lower culms. Leaves
cauline; sheaths glabrous, basal ones strongly compressed; ligules reduced to a ciliolate rim; blades 15–30 cm long, 0.2–0.6 cm
wide, linear, flat, rigid, glabrous or hairy on the basal ⅓, inconspicuous midribs, slightly recessed above and slightly protruding
below, margins scabrous, bases rounded, apex acute. Inflorescence a spatheate panicle. Spikelets 5–7 mm long, in pairs;
lemma awns geniculate, arising from the sinus with twisted column. Distribution: Africa.
28
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
6. Andropogon africanus Franch.
7. Andropogon canaliculatus Schumach.
FIGURE 15
FIGURE 16
Andropogon africanus Franch., Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Autun. 8:
325. 1895.
Andropogon canaliculatus Schumach., Beskr. Guin. Pl. 52. 1827.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 50–250 cm high, erect, glabrous;
nodes glabrous; branching arising from the lower culms. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths firm, glabrous, the lower keeled upward; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 10–40 cm long; 2–7 mm
wide very short, linear, flat, or conduplicate, glabrous with distinct
recessed protruding midribs, margins glabrous, bases simple, apex
abruptly acute canoe-shaped point. Inflorescences composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; spatheoles
7–10 cm long, linear. Spikelets 4–7 mm dorsally compressed in
pairs; principal lemma awns geniculate, arising from the sinus with
twisted column. Distribution: tropical Africa.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 25–200 cm high, erect, glabrous, branching upper part; nodes glabrous; branches ample
at the base. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open; oral hairs
ciliate; auricles erect or absent; ligules up to 2 mm long, an eciliate membrane; blades 10–40 cm long, 1–5 mm, wide, linear, flat,
or partially folded, the basal ones are folded and compressed,
narrow, glabrous, inconspicuous whitish hyaline midrib slightly
recessed above and protruding below on the lower ⅔, simple
bases, margins slightly scabrid, acute apex. Inflorescences of
paired racemes 3–9 cm long, occasionally terminal, spatheate.
Spikelets 3.5–6 mm long, in pairs, dorsally compressed; principal lemma awns geniculate, arising from the sinus with twisted
column. Distribution: tropical Africa.
FIGURE 15. Andropogon africanus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from M.-R. & T. 9418 (US-2892212).
FIGURE 16. Andropogon canaliculatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from RoseInnes, GH 30570 (US-2433219).
NUMBER 108
8. Andropogon chevalieri Reznik
9. Andropogon festuciformis Rendle
FIGURE 17
FIGURE 18
Andropogon chevalieri Reznik, Rev. Bot. Appl. Agric. Trop.13:
870. 1933.
Caespitose annuals; branching sparse. Culms 200–250 cm
high, erect, internodes, glabrous; nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly
cauline; sheaths glabrous; auricles erect, 3–9 mm long; ligules
eciliate membrane, 2–10 mm long; blades linear, flat or involute, glabrous and smooth, simple bases, apex acute or filiform.
Inflorescences of paired racemes, 4–6 cm long, occasionally terminal, subtended by a spatheole. Spikelets in pairs, sterile spikelets 5–10 mm long, fertile spikelets 5.5–10 mm long, dorsally
compressed; principal lemma awns 18–25 mm long overall, from
a sinus, geniculate, with twisted glabrous column. Distribution:
tropical West Africa.
FIGURE 17. Andropogon chevalieri. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
•
29
Andropogon festuciformis Rendle, Cat. Afr. Pl. 2: 145. 1899.
Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 140 cm high, erect, reddish throughout; branches ample, arising from upper culm; butt
sheaths persistent and investing base of culm, with compacted
dead sheaths. Leaves cauline; sheaths glabrous, laterally compressed and keeled, basal sheaths distichous; ligules ciliolate
membrane, 0.5 mm long; blades 5–28 cm long, 1.8–4 mm wide,
stiff, linear, flat, conduplicate, glabrous with narrow bases and
acuminate apex. Inflorescences 3–4 cm long, solitary racemes in
fascicles of 1–6 at regular intervals along the culm. Sterile spikelets
FIGURE 18. Andropogon festuciformis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from JacquesFelix, 7430 (K).
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
3.5–4.5 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, fertile spikelets
3.5–4.5 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed. Distribution:
widespread across tropical parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
10. Andropogon gayanus Kunth
petiole, acute apex. Inflorescences paired recemes subtended
by a spatheole. Fertile spikelets 5–8 mm long, in pairs, oblong,
dorsally compressed, sterile spikelets 5–8 mm, elliptic, dorsally
compressed; principal lemma awns 10–30 mm long overall, from
a sinus, geniculate, with twisted glabrous column. Distribution:
throughout tropics of Old and New Worlds.
FIGURE 19
11. Andropogon ivorensis Adjan. & Clayton
Andropogon gayanus Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 163. 1829.
Common names: guelori, nguon; Rhodesian blue grass, tambuki
grass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 400 cm high, erect, glabrous; branches sparse, arising from the lower culms. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths open, keeled toward the tops, glabrous, ribbed; ligules eciliate brownish membrane, less than 3
mm long; blades linear, flat, glabrous, tuberculate-ciliate margins, base attenuate tapering to midrib with or without a false
FIGURE 19. Andropogon gayanus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from A. S. Hitchcock (US-1446837).
FIGURE 20
Andropogon ivorensis Adjan. & Clayton, Adansonia n.s., 3:
401. 1963.
Caespitose annuals. Culms erect; internodes glabrous.
Leaves cauline; sheaths open, glabrous; ligules ciliolate membrane, less than 3 mm long; blades linear, flat, sparsely hairy
with scabrous margins and attenuate apex. Inflorescences paired,
racemes 9–11 cm long, hidden in sheaths. Fertile spikelets 8 mm
long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, sterile spikelets 12 mm
FIGURE 20. Andropogon ivorensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Boudet 3319
(US-3004041).
NUMBER 108
long; principal lemma awns geniculate, arising from the sinus
with twisted column. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
12. Andropogon perligulatus Stapf
FIGURE 21
Andropogon perligulatus Stapf, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1908:
410. 1908.
Common name: bushy bluestem grass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 150 cm high, erect,
bases with fibrous dead leaf sheaths; branches ample at the base;
•
31
internodes glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous,
auricles erect; ligules (1.5−)2.5–6 mm long, eciliate membrane
with truncate apex; blades linear 7.5–33 cm long, 0.1–0.32 mm
wide, revolute with conspicuous keel, shortly and densely pilose,
margins tuberculate-ciliate, tapering to a very fine point at the
apex. Inflorescences composed of racemes. Racemes 1.5–7.5 cm
long, in pairs, exserted from the spatheoles; spatheoles 8–14 cm
long, linear. Fertile spikelets 5–6 mm long, sterile spikelets
4–5 mm long; principal lemma awns geniculate, arising from the
sinus with twisted column. Distribution: tropical and temperate
Africa.
13. Andropogon pseudapricus Stapf
FIGURE 22
Andropogon pseudapricus Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 242. 1918.
Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 150 cm high, stout, geniculately ascending, sometimes with prop roots, internodes glabrous; branched upper nodes. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
FIGURE 21. Andropogon perligulatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye
(1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
FIGURE 22. Andropogon pseudapricus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from J. C.
Adam 13836 (US-2936681), Dalziel 287 (US-2433410).
32
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
14. Andropogon tectorum Schum. & Thonn.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 20–50 cm high; internodes
smooth, glabrous, branched upward with or without prop roots.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules 1–2 mm long,
an eciliate membrane or ciliolate membrane; blades 30–45 cm
long, 2–3 cm wide, lanceolate, glabrous or puberulous at the tips,
markedly finely nerved with a conspicuous white midrib protruding prominently below with margins scabrous or spinulously ciliate bases attenuated narrowing toward midrib with a false petiole,
acute apex. Inflorescences composed of paired racemes, 3–4 cm
long. Fertile spikelets 4–5 mm long, oblong, dorsally compressed,
sterile spikelets 4–5 mm long, oblong, dorsally compressed; principal lemma awns 15–20 mm long overall, from sinus, geniculate,
with twisted column. Distribution: tropical Africa.
FIGURE 23
15. Anthephora pubescens Nees
Andropogon tectorum Schum. & Thonn., Beskr. Guin. Pl. 49.
1827.
Common names: wara; horse grass.
FIGURE 24
glabrous or rarely loosely pilose; ligules up to 2 mm long, an
eciliate membrane, pinkish color and fused with auricles; blades
8–40 cm long, 0.1–0.5 cm wide, linear, flat, glabrous with a pale
hyaline midrib and slightly scabrid margins with bases narrower
than the sheaths apex. Inflorescences of paired racemes 2–4 cm
long, linear to narrowly lanceolate; spatheoles 5 cm long. Fertile spikelets 5–6 mm long, laterally compressed, sterile spikelets 4–5 mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed; principal lemma
awns 30–50 mm long, geniculate, from the sinus with twisted
column. Distribution: West Africa, from Senegal to Chad and
Cameron; probably introduced in Mexico and Brazil.
FIGURE 23. Andropogon tectorum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from J. P. M. Brenan 8645 (US-2012572).
Anthephora pubescens Nees, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill. 74. 1841.
Common names: bottle brush grass, cat’s tail grass, wool grass.
FIGURE 24. Anthephora pubescens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from A. Pappi
426 (US-2077137).
NUMBER 108
•
33
Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short, wiry. Culms up to
200 cm long, unbrached, erect or geniculately ascending; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths persistent and investing base of
culms. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, sometimes scantily bearded at the mouth, or more or less pubescent to villous
all over; upper sheaths hairy or glabrous; auricles erect or absent; ligules 2–8 mm long, eciliate membrane, obtuse; blades
10–40 cm long and 0.2–0.6 cm wide, linear, flaccid, flat, margins thickened, crinkled, apex attenuate. Inflorescences 5–15 cm
long, 0.5–1 cm wide, straw-colored cylindrical spike, comprising
clusters of 3–11 spikelets surrounded by an involucre of stiff,
narrowly elliptic bracts on reduced axis along a main axis. Spikelets 6–11 mm long, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
16. Aristida adscensionis L.
FIGURE 25
Aristida adscensionis L., Sp. Pl. 1: 82. 1753.
Common names: allomoze, dugun bee; annual bristle grass,
broomstick grass.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–50 cm tall, erect, weak,
geniculate; nodes dark; internodes glabrous; sometimes rooting at lower nodes; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules
0.5–1 mm long, ciliolate membranes; blades 5–15 cm long,
1–2.5 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, stiff, sparsely hairy, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–14 cm long, 0.5–3 cm
wide, erect, terminal and axillary, rachis fragile at the nodes,
ciliate on margins. Spikelets 6–12 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3–awned, the awns 5–25 mm long. Distribution:
tropics and subtropics.
FIGURE 25. Aristida adscensionis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm,
M. Kassas, F. Shalaby, M. Samy, M. Zahran (CAI); B−D drawn
from G. A. Mensah 476 (US-2209026).
17. Aristida cumingiana var. uniseta
Stent & J. M. Rattray
18. Aristida diminuta (Mez) C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 26
FIGURE 27
Aristida cumingiana var. uniseta Stent and J. M. Rattray, Proc.
and Trans. Rhodesia Sci. Assoc. 32: 48. 1933.
Aristida diminuta (Mez) C. E. Hubb., Kew Bull. 4: 480. 1949.
Solitary or densely caespitose, annuals. Culms 5–10(–25) cm
high, erect; branching ample from lower culms; internodes glabrous; nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths smooth or
minutely pubescent, striate, keeled; collars glabrous or minutely
pubescent; ligules short-ciliate membrane; blades up to 6 cm long,
0.1 cm wide, linear, involute, scabrous, bases simple with attenuate apex. Inflorescences panicle 3–8 cm, lax, or effuse, somewhat
contracted. Spikelets 2–2.5 mm long, dark purple or greenish
tinged with purple narrowly lanceolate, awns 3, unequal, delicate, scabrid, the central awn 4.5–6 mm long, slightly recurved,
the lateral awns 2.5–4 mm long, suberect. Distribution: Africa.
Slender tufted annuals. Culms 15–30 cm high, erect; simple
or branched at the bases, glabrous; internodes smooth. Leaves
mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous, smooth or minutely pubescent,
striate, keeled; collars glabrous or minutely pubescent; ligules
a short ciliate rim; blades 2–7(–10) cm long, 0.1 cm wide, involute, scabrous and with long scattered hairs above, glabrous,
smooth beneath, apex attenuate. Panicles 4–10 cm long, open,
elliptic, loose, or effuse; panicle branches capillary. Spikelets
2.5–3 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, subterete; principal lemma
awns 7–10 mm long, curved, delicate, scabrous, the lateral awns
absent. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
34
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 26. Aristida cumingiana var. uniseta. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Faden et al. 96/98
(US-3348788).
FIGURE 27. Aristida diminuta. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from E. A. Robinson 5354
(US-2433380).
19. Aristida funiculata Trin. & Rupr.
from the uppermost sheath, terminal and axillary, erect. Spikelets 20–30 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3-awned, the
awns 35–45 mm long, the column 2–4.5 cm long, twisted. Distribution: tropical Africa to India.
FIGURE 28
Aristida funiculata Trin. and Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac. 159. 1842.
Common names: holu, kasso.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–25 cm tall, erect, week,
wiry, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous,
forming bulbs. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths open, glabrous,
margins smooth; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, fringe of hairs; blades
5–20 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, convolute or folded, stiff,
appressed, glabrous, margins smooth, bases simple, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–10 cm long, contracted, scarcely exerted
20. Aristida hordeacea Kunth
FIGURE 29
Aristida hordeacea Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 2: 517, t. 173. 1831.
Common name: fox brush.
Solitary or caespitose annuals. Culms 10–90 cm high, slender, erect or ascending; branched from the base and lower nodes;
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 28. Aristida funiculata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm
s.n. (CAI); B−D drawn from S. Laegaard & S. Traore 17915
(US-3595195).
•
35
FIGURE 29. Aristida hordeacea. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A and C drawn from P. J. Greenway 7393 (US1913544); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
21. Aristida kunthiana Trin. & Rupr.
internodes glabrous; nodes glabrous or pubescent. Leaves
mostly basal; sheaths keeled, pubescent; auricles shortly barbate; collars glabrous; ligules shortly ciliate membrane; blades
ca. 30 cm long, 1 cm wide, glaucous, linear, flat or folded, scabrous to hirtellous above, becoming glabrous beneath, bases
simple, apex acuminate or attenuate apex. Inflorescence panicle spiciform. Spikelets 6–9 mm long, linear-lanceolate; lemmas with 3 apical awns, principal lemma awns 2.5–3.5 cm long
without column spreading. Distribution: throughout tropical
Africa.
FIGURE 30
Aristida kunthiana Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac. 151. 1842.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–45 cm long, erect; internodes distally glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly
basal; sheaths glabrous; oral hairs bearded; ligules fringe of
hairs; blades 5–20 cm long, 0.2–0.3 cm wide, linear, flat or convolute. Inflorescences 10–15 cm long, open panicles. Spikelets
36
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 31. Aristida mutabilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from V. Täckholm 1685 (CAI), Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from J. Ash 2991 (US-2837041).
FIGURE 30. Aristida kunthiana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from R. A. Farrow 81 (K).
6–12 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, subterete; principal lemma
awns 3-branched, with 15–25 mm long limb, without a column,
deciduous, abscissing from top of lemma. Lateral lemma awns
10–20 mm long; subequal to principal, or shorter than principal.
Distribution: Mali and Senegal.
2–7 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, convolute, stiff, glabrous, margins smooth, bases slightly narrower than sheath apex, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–10 cm long, open, linear, erect, terminal and
axillary. Spikelets 6–7 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas
3-awned, awns 10–30 mm long, the column 3−5(−6.8) mm long,
twisted. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: tropical Africa to India.
23. Aristida recta Franch.
FIGURE 32
22. Aristida mutabilis Trin. & Rupr.
Aristida recta Franch., Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Autun. 8: 365. 1895.
FIGURE 31
Aristida mutabilis Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac. 150. 1842.
Common names: kelbi, okras; white grass.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–40 cm tall, erect, weak, geniculate; nodes dark; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins smooth;
oral hairs present; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, fringe of hairs; blades
Caespitose perennials. Persistent basal leaf sheaths breaking
up into fibres and forming a dense tuft at the base of the culms;
roots wiry. Culms 10–30 cm high, erect; internodes glabrous.
Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, basal ones somewhat compressed; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 5–20 cm long, 0.1 cm
wide, filiform, wiry, scaberulous above, setaceous, bases simple
and apex acuminate. Inflorescences 3–8 cm long, ovate-lanceolate
panicle. Spikelets 5–7.5 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, subterete;
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 32. Aristida recta. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from P. Greenway, C. G. Trapnell 5704
(US-1815404).
principal lemma awns 3-branched; with 6–8 mm long limb; without a column. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
24. Aristida rhiniochloa Hochst.
FIGURE 33
Aristida rhiniochloa Hochst., Flora 38: 200. 1855.
Common name: large-seeded three-awn.
•
37
FIGURE 33. Aristida rhiniochloa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from A. J. Cakes 1444 (Ellis 541)
(US-3025943).
membrane; blades 10–20 cm long and 0.2–0.4 cm wide, linear,
flat, glaucous, scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicle up to 20 cm
long, effuse or contracted. Spikelets 6–17 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, subterete; principal lemma awns 3-branched, persistent,
lateral lemma awns 15–30 mm long, subequal to principal without a column. Distribution: from Mauritania in West Africa to
Eritrea, Tanzania, and the Transvaal.
25. Aristida sieberiana Trin.
Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 65 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending; sparse branching from the lower and middle
nodes; internodes scabrid; nodes pubescent. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths laxly embracing the culm, keeled, scabrous; auricles long-barbate; collars bearded or glabrous; ligules ciliate
FIGURE 34
Aristida sieberiana Trin., Neue Entdeck. Pflanzenk. 2: 61. 1821.
Common names: amadzarne, okras.
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 34. Aristida sieberiana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Firubuklw 106 (US-1718599).
Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 100 cm high; erect,
woody, branches ample, arising from mid culms; internodes glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed; ligules
fringe of hairs; blades 5–30 cm long, mostly involute and narrow, glabrous, glaucous with narrow bases and acuminate apices. Panicle 8–25 cm long, loosely contracted to open. Spikelets
15–20 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, subterete; principal lemma
awns 3-branched with 45–85 mm long limb, column twisted,
deciduous, abscissing from top of lemma, lateral lemma awns
30–70 mm long. Distribution: Kenya; also from Senegal and
Cameroon to Somalia northward to Tunisia and Palestine.
FIGURE 35. Aristida stipoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Leibeuberg 119 (US-1504693).
Caespitose annuals. Culms 90–150 cm long, erect; internodes
distally glabrous, solid; branches ample, rising from upper culms.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths scabrous; oral hairs woolly; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 15–30 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide, linear, flat or involute, scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 20–50 cm
long, open, elliptic, effuse, equilateral, or nodding. Spikelets
14–20 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, subterete; principal lemma
awns 3-branched with 35–60 mm long limb with twisted column,
deciduous, abscissing from top of lemma, column of lemma awns
15–30 mm long; lateral lemma awns 30–50 mm long, shorter than
principal. Distribution: tropical and South Africa; Asia to Australia.
26. Aristida stipoides Lam.
27. Arthraxon lancifolius (Trin.) Hochst.
FIGURE 35
FIGURE 36
Aristida stipoides Lam., Encycl. 1: 157. 1783.
Common names: teloloud, telolud.
Arthraxon lancifolius (Trin.) Hochst., Flora 39: 188. 1856.
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 36. Arthraxon lancifolius. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from E. Milne-Redhead & P. Taylor
10110 (US-2914457).
Mat-forming annuals; stolons present. Culms 5–20 cm
high, slender, procumbent or prostrate, much branched from
lower culm; internodes glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline;
sheaths short lax, the uppermost slightly inflated, finely hairy
especially toward the base; ligules membranous, short, less
than 3 mm long; blades 3 cm long, 0.6–0.8 cm wide, laceolateovate, flaccid, glabrous or softly hairy on both sides, barely
scabrid margins, hairy, bases cordate or well rounded and
apex acuminate. Inflorescences of paired racemes or up to 9,
borne along central axis 1–2 cm long. Spikelets 2–3 mm long
in pairs, laterally compressed; principal lemma awns 6–10 mm
long, arising from near the base, very delicate, bent and twisted
below the middle. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa
and Asia to India.
•
39
FIGURE 37. Arundinella nepalensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
28. Arundinella nepalensis Trin.
FIGURE 37
Arundinella nepalensis Trin., Sp. Gram. 3: t. 268. 1829.
Common names: reed grass, river grass.
Caespitose perennials with short scaly rhizomes. Culms 60–
180 cm long, erect, internodes pubescent; nodes pubescent; butt
sheaths papery. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous, ligules
0.8–1.2 mm long, eciliate membrane, truncate; blades 8–30 cm
long, 3–10 mm wide, linear, flat or convolute, stiff, scaberulous,
glabrous, or hirsute, margins scabrous, apex obtuse. Panicles
10–40 cm long, oblong, open or contracted. Spikelets 4–6 mm
40
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
long, in pairs, lanceolate; principal lemma awns 4–6 mm long
overall, from a sinus, geniculate, with twisted column. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa, eastward to China and
Australia.
29. Avena sativa* L. subsp. sativa
present; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate;
blades 5–30 cm long, 5–20 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, scaberulous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 10–15 cm long,
erect, terminal, open drooping, linear, equilateral or nodding.
Spikelets 22–27 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 2.0–3.2 cm long, awns 2.5–3.5 cm long, geniculate, column
twisted. Habitat: weed in cultivated areas. Distribution: Eurasia.
FIGURE 38
30. Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J. C. Wendl.
Avena sativa* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 79. 1753.
Common name: oats.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect; nodes
dark; internodes glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly
basal; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs
FIGURE 39
Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J. C. Wendl., Coll. Pl. 2: 26, pl.
47. 1808.
Common names: common bamboo, striped bamboo.
Densely caespitose perennials with short rhizome. Culms
woody up to 20 m tall and 4–10 cm thick, erect or geniculately
ascending bamboolike, several branches develop from midculm nodes and above; internodes smooth; nodes are slightly
inflated. Leaves mostly cauline, deciduous; sheaths scabrous or
FIGURE 38. Avena sativa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. C.
Spikelet. A, B drawn from L. F. Ward s.n. (US-156655); C modified
from Baum (2007).
FIGURE 39. Bambusa vulgaris. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Leaf blades. D. Spikelets. E. Sheath and blade. A−E drawn
from R. E. Vaaghan 1901 (US-1815386).
NUMBER 108
hispid; auricles falcate; oral hairs ciliate; ligules 3–8 mm long,
an eciliate membrane; blades 7–23 cm long, 1–5 cm wide, with
a brief petiolelike connection to sheath, lanceolate, glaucous,
scabrous, or pubescent, bases cordate, tapering toward midrib,
apex acute-acuminate. Panicles 10–40 cm long with spathaceous
subtending bracts. Spikelets 10–20 mm long, oblong, laterally
compressed, lemma awnless. Distribution: throughout the tropics and subtropics.
31. Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone
•
41
Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 300 cm tall robust, rough;
butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths slightly
flattened, hairy on basal ⅓, margins smooth; oral hairs ciliate;
collars dark; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 20–100 cm long,
8–50 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, spreading, flaccid,
scabrous, hairy on basal ⅓, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 4–20 cm long, 0.8–5.5 cm wide, spiciform, linear, elliptic or
ovate, partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 3–6 mm long,
obovate, dorsally compressed, subtended by involucres of bristles; lemmas awnless. Habitat: weed in cultivated cereal fields.
Distribution: Asia.
FIGURE 40
32. Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.
Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford) 106:
127. 2010 [Cenchrus spicatus (L.) Cav., Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.].
Common names: dakhn; cattail millet, pearl millet.
FIGURE 41
Cenchrus biflorus Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1: 238. 1820.
Common names: cram-cram, uzak; burgrass, India sandbur.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–90 cm tall, erect or ascending; internodes glabrous, glossy, or pubescent; nodes dark
FIGURE 40. Cenchrus americanus. A. Flag leaf blade and inflorescence. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. C. Spikelets with lower (left) and
upper (right) glumes. A modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988);
B drawn from R. Dũmmer s.n. (US-634944); C modified from
Hitchcock (1951).
FIGURE 41. Cenchrus biflorus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 10682 (CAI); B, C drawn
from A. Anderson s.n. (US 2949200).
42
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
colored; lateral branches ample, extravaginal, arising from lower
culms or mid culms; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths open for most of their length, flattened, keeled,
glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present or bearded; collars white, pubescent; ligules 2 mm long, fringe of hairs; blades
2–20 cm long, 1–5 mm wide, linear or lanceolate, sparsely hairy,
scabrous, bases simple, broadly rounded or cordate, margins
scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–15 cm long, spiciform; involucres 0.4–1.1 cm long, ovoid; inner bristles flattened united
at the base to form a shallow disc 2−4 mm in diameter. Spikelets
3.5–6 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, ovate, dorsally compressed,
acuminate, subtended by involucres of bristles; lemmas awnless.
Distribution: tropical Africa to India.
33. Cenchrus ciliaris L.
FIGURE 42
Cenchrus ciliaris L., Mant. Pl. 2: 302. 1771 [Pennisetum ciliare
(L.) Link].
Common names: ebanau, habinni; biloela buffel grass, blue buffalo grass.
Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. Culms 10–50 cm tall,
1–4 mm in diameter, wiry, erect, geniculate; internodes sparsely
hairy; culms grooved, opposite branches; nodes bearded, sometimes
rooting below; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths loose, strongly compressed, open, sparsely hairy, margins
smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1 mm long, fringe of hairs; blades
4–20 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, stiff, ribbed,
scabrous, pilose or glabrous, and glaucous, midribs conspicuous,
prominent beneath, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles
2–14 cm long, 1–2.6 cm wide; involucres 0.6–1.6 cm long, elongated; inner bristles much exceeding the spikelets, one longer and
stouter than the rest. Spikelets 2–5.5 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally
compressed, acute, subtended by an involucre of bristles; lemmas
awnless. Distribution: tropical and southern Africa to India.
34. Cenchrus hordeoides (Lam.) Morrone
FIGURE 43
Cenchrus hordeoides (Lam.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford) 106:
128. 2010. [Pennisetum hordeoides (Lam.) Steud.]
Caespitose annuals. Culms 25–120 cm long, geniculately ascending, slender; lateral branches ample arising from mid culms.
Leaves mostly basal; sheaths keeled, loose, hirsute with spreading hairs sometimes tubercle based, often ciliate on the margins,
or glabrous and smooth; ligules ciliate membrane, truncate, very
short, densely ciliate or reduced to a densely ciliate rim; blades
3–30 cm long; 0.15–1.5 cm wide, linear or linear-lanceolate, flat,
green, firm or flaccid, densely hirsute with short spreading tubercle-based hairs, pubescent or glabrescent, scaberulous above and
on the margins, gradually narrowed or contracted at bases, apex
acute. Panicles 3.5–9 cm long, 0.4–0.6 cm wide (excluding bristles), spiciform, straight, or curved. Spikelets 2.5–4.5 mm long,
solitary, subtended by an involucre of bristles, oblong; involucral
bristles deciduous; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution:
tropical Africa and Asia.
35. Cenchrus pedicellatus (Trin.) Morrone
FIGURE 44
Cenchrus pedicellatus (Trin.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford) 106:
128. 2010. [Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin. basionym = Panicum violaceum Lam.]
FIGURE 42. Cenchrus ciliaris. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Abu Raya s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn
from W. A. Archer 10149 (US-2236373).
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–150 cm long, geniculately
ascending, slender to stout; lateral branches ample, arising from
mid culms; internodes glabrous; nodes glabrous, lower nodes
rooting; butt sheaths glabrous, scarious. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths shorter than the internodes, loose, glabrous or pubescent
and ciliate on the margins or loosely hairy with tubercle-based
NUMBER 108
•
43
FIGURE 43. Cenchrus hordeoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Daniel 88 (US-3044962).
hairs; ligules ciliate membrane; blades 5–25 cm long, 0.4–1.5 cm
wide, flat, linear to linear-lanceolate, rather flaccid, green, glabrous or loosely hairy with tubercle-based hairs, scaberulous, or
smooth below, inconspicuous midrib slightly recessed above and
protruding slightly below, margin tuberculate-ciliate, cartilaginous, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–15 cm long, spiciform, linear,
straight, or curved. Spikelets 5–10 mm long, subtended by an
involucre, composed of bristles, ovate, base obtuse, involucral
bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; lemma apex obtuse.
Distribution: tropical Africa, western Indian Ocean, tropical
Asia, Australia, and South America.
36. Cenchrus polystachios subsp. atrichus
(Stapf & C. E. Hubb.) Morrone.
FIGURE 45
Cenchrus polystachios subsp. atrichus (Stapf & C. E. Hubb.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford), n.s. 106: 129. 2010. [Pennisetum
FIGURE 44. Cenchrus pedicellatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Mahous s.n. (US-1982886).
polystachion subsp. atrichum (Stapf and C. E. Hubb.)
Brunken]
Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 30–
150 cm long, geniculately ascending; branching ample, arising
from lower culms often with prop roots; internodes glabrous;
nodes dark. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths keeled, glabrous; ligules ciliate membrane, whitened collar; blades 5–25 cm long, 0.4–
1.5 cm wide, lanceolate, scabrous to sparsely hairy, apex acute.
Panicles 5–15 cm long, spiciform, linear, straight, or curved. Spikelets 5–10 mm long, subtended by an involucre of bristles, ovate,
base obtuse; involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets;
lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa, western
Indian Ocean, tropical Asia, Australia, and South America.
44
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 45. Cenchrus polystachios. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
37. Cenchrus prieurii (Kunth) Maire
FIGURE 46
FIGURE 46. Cechrus prieurii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn
from Poilecot (1999).
Inflorescences 6–14 cm long, spiciform panicle. Spikelets 4–5 mm
long, in clusters, subtended by involucres of bristles, ovate, dorsally compressed, acuminate; lemma apex obtuse, or acute, mucronate; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa to India.
Cenchrus prieurii (Kunth) Maire, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. II,
3: 523. 1931.
Common names: heskanit, wesedj.
38. Cenchrus violaceus (Lam.) Morrone
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–75 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending, moderately slender; branching spreading ample,
arising from the mid culms; internodes glabrous; nodes dark.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths compressed and keeled, scabrous with entire margins; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 9–30 cm
long, 0.5–1 cm wide, linear, flat, glaucous, ribbed, scabrous
or hairy on basal ⅓, margins, scabrous, crenate, apex acute.
Cenchrus violaceus (Lam.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford), n.s.
106: 130. 2010. [Pennisetum violaceum (Lam.) Rich. ex
Pers. basionym = Panicum violaceum Lam.]
FIGURE 47
Caespitose annuals forming cushions. Culms 30–300 cm
long, erect, or geniculately ascending or decumbent; branched
from most nodes; internodes glabrous, semiterete; nodes dark,
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 47. Cenchrus violaceus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n.
(CAI); B−D drawn from J. G. Adam 19906 (US-2464693).
lower nodes rooting. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, loose, terete, sparingly to densely hirsute with deciduous tubercle-based hairs on lower ⅓; oral hairs present; collars
dark; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 15–100 cm long, 0.3–2.5 cm
wide, linear, flat, flaccid, green, loosely hirsute with long white
hairs, margins cartilaginous and smooth, apex acute. Panicles
2.5–20 cm long, 0.8–2 cm wide, spiciform, linear. Spikelets solitary or paired, subtended by an involucre of bristles; lemma apex
obtuse or acute, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
39. Chloris gayana Kunth
lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths strongly compressed, keeled, glabrous, margins
smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes;
blades 15–25 cm long, 2–9 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, hairy
on the basal ⅓, margins smooth, apex attenuate. Inflorescences
4–15 cm long, with (5–)7–20 digitately arranged racemes; racemes
spreading or ascending. Spikelets 2.5–4 mm long, 3−4 flowered,
packed broadside to rachis, cuneate, laterally compressed; fertile
lemmas 2.9−3.2 mm long, awns 1.5–5.5 mm long, straight, bristly.
Distribution: tropical and southern Africa.
40. Chloris pilosa Schumach.
Caespitose perennials; stolons present. Culms up to 200 cm
tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striate; with or without
45
FIGURE 48. Chloris gayana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Inflorescence. D. Glumes. E. Spikelets. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988). B, D, E drawn from A. J. Oakes 364450
(US-3025905).
FIGURE 48
Chloris gayana Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 293, pl. 58. 1830.
Common names: Hunyani grass, Rhodes grass.
•
FIGURE 49
Chloris pilosa Schumach., Beskr. Guin. Pl. 55. 1827.
Common names: babunsi, mbonsi; goat’s beard.
46
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 49. Chloris pilosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from J. T. Baldwin Jr. 11228 (US-2673081).
FIGURE 50. Chloris prieurii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelets. A drawn from G. Tackholm s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn
from S. Laegaard & S. Traore 17061 (US-3595001).
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–100 cm high, robust, erect
or geniculately ascending or decumbent, with or without rooting from the lower nodes; branching ample, arising from mid
nodes. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened or keeled, glabrous with entire margins; collars whitened, ciliate; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 5–30 cm long, 0.2–0.5 cm wide, flat or
folded, glabrous, bases slightly rounded tapering to a fine point.
Inflorescences with 6–13 loosely digitate racemes; racemes 2.5–
8.5 cm long. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm long, solitary, cuneate, laterally
compressed; principal lemma awns 2.5–5 mm long, subapical.
Distribution: tropical Africa to Australia.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 40–85 cm long, erect, or geniculately ascending; branching from lower culms; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
glabrous; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 10–30 cm long, 0.2–
0.5 cm wide, linear, flat, glaucous, glabrous, apex acuminate.
Racemes 4–12 cm long, 4–9 in number, digitate, unilateral, rachis angular. Spikelets 3–5 mm long, packing broadside to rachis,
regular, 2-rowed, lemma apex dentate, bifid, awned, 1-awned,
principal lemma awns 7–25 mm long. Distribution: tropical Africa, Macronesia, temperate and tropical Asia to India.
42. Chloris virgata Sw.
41. Chloris prieurii Kunth
FIGURE 51
FIGURE 50
Chloris prieurii Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 2: 441, t. 134. 1831. [Enteropogon prieurii (Kunth) Clayton]
Chloris virgata Sw., Fl. Ind. Occid. 1: 203. 1797.
Common names: feather finger grass, white grass, windmill
grass.
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 51. Chloris virgata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Tackholm, L. Boulos & M. Zahran 204, 206 (CAI); B drawn from Poilecot (1995); C drawn from
B. Wennell (US-1446109).
Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, straw colored; nodes dark, occasionally lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal
and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, strongly compressed,
keeled, glabrous, margins hairy at junction between blade and
sheath; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 10–25 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, glabrous, margins smooth, apex attenuate. Inflorescences
composed of 4–12 racemes; racemes 2−10 cm long, digitate,
spreading. Spikelets 2.5–4.5 mm long, 3-flowered, cuneate, laterally compressed; fertile lemmas 2−3.6 mm long with a crown of
hairs at the apex, the hairs 1.5−4 mm long, awns 5–12 mm long,
straight. Distribution: throughout the tropics.
43. Chrysochloa hindsii C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 52
Chrysochloa hindsii C. E. Hubb., Kew Bull. 4: 349. 1949.
•
47
FIGURE 52. Chrysochloa hindsii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from R. Rose-Innes GC30939
(US-2380909).
Variable solitary or caespitose, usually stoloniferous. Culms
up to 70 cm high geniculately ascending or decumbent, wiry,
branching spreading, arising from midculm, rooting at lower
nodes. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, keeled or
strongly compressed; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 0.8–
15 cm long, 0.2–0.6 cm wide, flat, glabrous, margins smooth
or slightly scabrid, apex abruptly rounded. Inflorescences composed of 2–4(–5) digitately arranged racemes; racemes 1–12 cm
long. Spikelets 3–4 mm long, solitary, ovate, laterally compressed, compressed strongly; principal lemma awns 1–2.5 mm
long overall, subapical. Distribution: tropical Africa.
44. Chrysopogon fulvibarbis (Trin.) Veldkamp
FIGURE 53
Chrysopogon fulvibarbis (Trin.) Veldkamp, Austrobaileya 5: 525.
1999.
Caespitose perennials with short rhizomes. Culms erect,
basal innovation intravaginal, flabellate. Leaves cauline; sheath
glabrous; ligules fringe of hairs; blades linear, flat, scabrous,
48
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 53. Chrysopogon fulvibarbis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from G. A.
Oduro 401 (US-2208988).
margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–20 cm long,
open, lanceolate; racemes 4–8 cm long linear; laterally slightly
compressed. Spikelets 6–8 mm long in pairs; principal lemma
awns 10–20 mm long overall, from a sinus, geniculate, clearly
exserted from spikelet, with a straight or slightly twisted column.
Distribution: tropical West Africa.
FIGURE 54. Chrysopogon nigritanus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from P. A.
Smith 2685 (US-3193087).
46. Coelachyrum brevifolium Hochst. & Nees
45. Chrysopogon nigritanus (Benth.) Veldkamp
FIGURE 55
FIGURE 54
Chrysopogon nigritanus (Benth.) Veldkamp, Austrobaileya 5:
526. 1999.
Caespitose perennials with short rhizomes. Culms 150–
300 cm high, erect, unbranched; internodes glabrous. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules scarious with shortly
ciliate margins or a line of hairs on an extremely short scarious
rim; blades up to 90 cm long, 0.7 cm wide, linear, flat, scabrid,
apex acuminate. Inflorescence an open panicle, 15–40 cm long,
lanceolate. Spikelets 7 mm long in pairs, narrowly linear-lanceolate; principal lemma awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
Coelachyrum brevifolium Hochst. & Nees, Linnaea 16: 221.
1842.
Caespitose annuals; stolons present. Culms 10–50 cm
tall, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striate, straw colored;
nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths longer than blades, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex dentate; blades 2–5 cm
long, 1.5–4 mm wide, glabrous, margins wavy, smooth, bases
rounded, apex acuminate. Inflorescences 1–5 cm long with 3–5
digitate racemes. Spikelets 3.5–4 mm long, ovate, laterally compressed, subsessile; lemmas 1.6−2.2 mm long, membranous,
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 55. Coelachyrum brevifolium. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Tackholm, M. Kassas,
H. Fawzy, F. Salaby & M. Zahran 1402 (CAI); B drawn from F. N.
Andrews 26 (US-30248192); C modified from Cope (2005).
pilose, awnless. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: northern Africa and Arabia.
47. Coix lacryma-jobi L.
•
49
FIGURE 56. Coix lacryma-jobi. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from M. Hassib
s.n. (CAI); Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from W. R. Luke
3305 (US-3262016).
racemes sessile subtended by a bony utricle comprising 1 spikelet, male racemes pedunculate projecting from the mouth of the
utricle comprising 3 or 2 spikelets. Fertile utricles 0.5−1.5 cm
long, globose; male racemes 3−5 cm long, the spikelets 7–9 mm
long, dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: cultivated
or escaped. Distribution: tropical Asia.
FIGURE 56
48. Ctenium elegans Kunth
Coix lacryma-jobi L., Sp. Pl. 2: 972. 1753.
Common names: corn bead, Job’s tears, pearl barley.
Caespitose annuals; plants monoecious. Culms up to 200 cm
tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths strongly compressed, keeled, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex
truncate; blades 10–50 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, linear-lanceolate,
flat, spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins cartilaginous, bases
cordate, apex acute. Inflorescences axillary, compound; male
and female racemes subtended by the same spatheole; female
FIGURE 57
Ctenium elegans Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 295. 1830.
Common names: samu saana, wolo kaman.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 90–120 cm long, geniculately
ascending; branching ample, arising from the lower culms.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths scabrous; ligules eciliate
membrane, apex erose; blades 20–30 cm long, 0.1–0.3 cm
wide, aromatic, linear, flat, flaccid, scabrous, apex acuminate.
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 57. Ctenium elegans. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from S. Laegaard,
H. Mipro & T. Sobere 18359 (US-3432616).
Inflorescence a single raceme; racemes 20–30 cm long, straight,
unilateral. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, solitary, packed broadside
to rachis, crowded, regular, 2-rowed; principal lemma awns
6–10 mm long overall, subapical. Distribution: tropical Africa,
temperate Asia.
FIGURE 58. Ctenium newtonii. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C. Ligule, sheath, and blade. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from S. Laegaard,
H. Mipro & T. Sobere 18327 (US-3432607).
(5)7–20(–30) cm long, straight or almost straight to coiled, unilateral. Spikelets 4–7 mm long, solitary; principal lemma awns
2.5–3 mm long, apex minutely bidentate. Distribution: tropical
East and West Africa.
50. Ctenium villosum Berhaut
FIGURE 59
49. Ctenium newtonii Hack.
FIGURE 58
Ctenium newtonii Hack., Bol. Soc. Brot. 5: 220. 1887.
Common name: wolo kaman.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 50–100 cm high, wiry, geniculately ascending; branching ample arising from the lower
nodes. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous to hairy; ligules eciliate membrane with erose apex; blades 5–25 cm long;
0.2–0.4 cm wide, aromatic, linear, involute, glabrous, margins
scabrous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence a single raceme; racemes
Ctenium villosum Berhaut, Mém. Soc. Bot. France 1953–1954:
10. 1954.
Caespitose delicate annuals. Culms 40–70 cm high, glands
wartlike, geniculately ascending. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths glabrous; ligules eciliate membrane; blades 5–10 cm
long; 0.1–0.2 cm wide, linear, involute, glabrous to hairy, margins slightly scabrid, apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed of
a single raceme; racemes 2–10 cm long, tightly spiraled, unilateral. Spikelets 5 mm long, solitary, packed broadside to rachis,
crowded, regular, 2-rowed; principal lemma awns 2 mm long,
subapical. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
NUMBER 108
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51
FIGURE 59. Ctenium villosum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Lecord 258
(US-2597782).
51. Cymbopogon caesius
(Nees ex Hook. & Arn.) Stapf
FIGURE 60. Cymbopogon caesius. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Gibbs Russell
& Smook 5460 (US-3510547).
FIGURE 60
Cymbopogon caesius (Nees ex Hook. & Arn.) Stapf, Bull. Misc.
Inform. Kew 1906: 341. 1906. [Cymbopogon giganteus
Chiov.]
Common names: buchu grass, inchi grass, kachi grass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 100–300 cm long, with
prop roots, erect, robust; branching ample, arising from lower
culms; butt sheaths withering; internodes glabrous; nodes
dark. Leaves basal and cauline; sheath glabrous, ribbed, the
basal sheaths soon falling away; ligules 0.3–2 mm long, eciliate
membrane, truncate, scarious; blades 15–60 cm long, 0.8–3 cm
wide, linear or lanceolate, herbaceous, dark green, aromatic,
glabrous and smooth, bases cordate to subamplexicaul, apex
attenuate. Inflorescences composed of racemes, subtended by
a spatheole; racemes 10–15 mm long. Spikelets 3.5–5 mm
long, in pairs; principal lemma awns 10–17 mm long, from a
sinus, geniculate, with twisted column. Distribution: tropical
Africa.
52. Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng.
FIGURE 61
Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng., Pl. Min. Cogn. Pug. 2:
15. 1815.
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
FIGURE 61. Cymbopogon schoenanthus. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from G. Täckholm s.n.
(CAI); B drawn from Y. Hu 8328 (US-2722032).
Common names: lemmad, taberimt; camel grass, gingergrass,
lemon grass.
FIGURE 62. Cynodon dactylon. A. Stolon. B. Habit. C. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Raclare Kanal
432 (US-3279031); B modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988);
D modified from Hitchcock (1951).
53. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
FIGURE 62
Caespitose, aromatic perennials. Culms 30−80 cm tall,
erect; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes dark, bearded; butt
sheaths glabrous, persistent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous
with erose apex; blades 10–35 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, filiform,
spreading, involute, scaberulous, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex attenuate to spiny, pungent. Panicles 5–40 cm long,
dense, composed of racemes 1–3 cm long, terminal and axillary, subtended by a spatheole, enclosed in the sheath, paired,
deflexed. Spikelets 4–7 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally
compressed; principal lemma awns 5–9 mm long, straight. Distribution: Sahara to Arabia.
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 85. 1805.
Common names: kiki, zozobu; Bahama grass, Bermuda grass,
Scotch grass.
Mat-forming perennials; stolons present; rhizomes elongated. Culms 10–40 cm tall, erect; internodes glabrous, glossy;
lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous, persistent. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 0.3 mm long, ciliate membrane; oral hairs present; blades 3–15 cm long, 2–4 mm wide,
linear or loosely convolute, spreading, scaberulous, glabrous or
NUMBER 108
pilose, margins sparsely hairy and scabrous, apex acuminate.
Racemes 1.5–6(–8) cm long, 4−6 in number, digitately arranged,
erect, unilateral. Spikelets 2–2.6 mm long, lanceolate, laterally
compressed; lemmas silky pubescent on the keel, awnless. Distribution: tropical and warm temperate regions; cosmopolitan.
54. Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.
FIGURE 63
Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd., Enum. Pl. 2: 1029. 1809.
Common names: burugal, keenie ana; buffalo grass, Egyptian
grass, finger comb grass.
•
53
sheaths open, somewhat glabrous, compressed, the basal ones
keeled, inconspicuously sparsely hairy, margins smooth; ligules
1–3 mm long, membranous; blades 3–20 cm long, 25–50 mm
wide, broadly linear, flat, ascending, margins ciliate with bulbous
base hairs, apex acuminate. Inflorescences with 3−9 digitately
arranged, unilateral racemes 1.2–6.5 cm long, spreading or ascending. Spikelets 3.5–4.5 mm long, laterally compressed; upper
glumes 1.5−2.2 mm long with a terminal, flexuous awn, the awn
0.8–4 mm long; lemmas 2.6−4 mm long, mucronate. Distribution:
tropical and warm temperate regions of Eastern Hemisphere.
55. Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf
FIGURE 64
Mat-forming or caespitose annuals; stolons present. Culms
10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; lower
nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline;
Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 178.
1917.
FIGURE 63. Dactyloctenium aegyptium. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B drawn
from S. Laegaard 16166B (US-3292800); C modified from Hatch
(2003).
FIGURE 64. Dichanthium annulatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from F. R. Fosberg 56909
(US-2832090).
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Common names: ebastan; Angleton grass, Delhi grass, Santa
Barbara grass,
Caespitose perennials. Culms 20–100 cm tall, decumbent;
internodes hirsute; nodes conspicuously bearded; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, striate,
margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex obtuse; blades 3–30 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear, flat;
ascending to appressed, pilose above, margins cartilaginous, bases
cordate, apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed of (1–)2–15
subdigitately arranged racemes; racemes 3–7 cm long. Spikelets
2–6 mm long, in pairs, oblong, dorsally compressed; lower glume
of sessile spikelet not pitted; principal lemma awns 8–25 mm long,
column twisted. Distribution: tropical Africa and Indonesia.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate, wiry; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes bearded; butt
sheaths scarious, pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
longer than blades, glabrous, basal hairy and striate, margins
membranous; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–3 mm long, ciliate
membrane; blades 3–20 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, glabrous, margins smooth, bases narrow, apex
acuminate. Inflorescence a single raceme, spatheolate; spatheoles
3.5–5 cm long; racemes 1.5–4.5 cm long, partially enclosed in
the sheath. Spikelets 2.5–4 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally
compressed; lower glume of sessile spikelet pitted; principal
lemma awns 12–18 mm long, geniculate, column twisted. Distribution: East Africa to India.
57. Diectomis fastigiata (Sw.) P. Beauv.
56. Dichanthium foveolatum (Delile) Roberty
FIGURE 66
FIGURE 65
Dichanthium foveolatum (Delile) Roberty, Boissiera 9: 170. 1960.
Common names: okras, tirichit, tirikit.
Diectomis fastigiata (Sw.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr., 132, 160.
1812. [Andropogon fastigiatus Sw.]
Common name: foldedleaf grass.
FIGURE 65. Dichanthium faveolatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets. A drawn from V. Täckholm 1606 (CAI); B−D drawn from W. Zeller 402 (US-3213846).
FIGURE 66. Diectomis fastigiata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Joln Sihvonen
261 (US-2789234).
NUMBER 108
Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 15–200 cm high,
erect; branches lacking. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous;
ligules more than 6 mm long, eciliate membrane with acute apex
and pink color; blades 5–30 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, flat or
conduplicate, smooth margins, bases almost with false petioles,
apex attenuate. Inflorescence a single raceme; racemes 2–5 cm
long gathered into a leafy panicle; subtended by a spatheole.
Fertile spikelets 4–5 mm long, elliptic or oblong, dorsally compressed, sessile; sterile spikelets 5–9 mm long; principal lemma
awns 25–40 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, with twisted glabrous column. Distribution: Western Hemisphere.
•
55
long, 0.3–1 cm wide, flat, rather firm, linear from slightly narrowed base, distinct white midrib for ½ their length, gradually
tapering to a very acute point, flexuous, quite glabrous or with
a few tubercle-based hairs near the base, slightly rough on both
sides, margins finely cartilaginous and rough. Inflorescence composed of (2)5–14 racemes; racemes 12–20 cm long. Spikelets
2.8–3.7 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, in pairs; lemmas awnless.
Distribution: tropical Africa.
59. Digitaria aristulata (Steud.) Stapf
FIGURE 68
58. Digitaria acuminatissima Stapf
Digitaria aristulata (Steud.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 471. 1919.
FIGURE 67
Digitaria acuminatissima Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 441. 1919.
Caespitose annuals. Culms over 60–120 cm high, rather
stout; erect or decumbent; internodes glabrous; nodes glabrous,
dark; lower nodes rooting. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, somewhat loose and firm, glabrous and smooth
or with a very few tubercle-based hairs near the mouth; ligules
about 2 mm long, short, rounded, membranous; blades 3–25 cm
FIGURE 67. Digitaria acuminatissima. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from H. L.
Shantz 566 (US-1297250).
Caespitose annuals. Culms 5-20 cm high, slender; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, pubescent, or bearded; lower nodes
rooting and branching. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths longer
than leaf blade, somewhat loose, the lower of the primary culms
usually slipping off the culms, softly hairy; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 1–3 cm long, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, linear, flat, softly
FIGURE 68. Digitaria aristulata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. A−C drawn from Delessert Kunth 4065
(US-1126077).
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
and loosely hairy, margins finely cartilaginous and scaberulous,
sometimes slightly rounded base, tapering to an acute point. Inflorescences digitate racemes; racemes 3–5, sessile, 3–5 cm long.
Spikelets 1.7 mm long, in pairs, oblong, dorsally compressed,
acuminate, falling entire; principal lemma awns subapical,
straight without column. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
60. Digitaria barbinodis Henrard
FIGURE 69
Digitaria barbinodis Henrard, Monogr. Digitaria, 67. 1950.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–50 cm long, geniculately ascending. Internodes glabrous; nodes bearded. Leaves mostly cauline; sheath glabrous; ligules 1–2 mm long, eciliate membrane;
blades 5–10 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide, linear, glabrous, flat.
Inflorescences composed of 4–5 racemes, digitately inserted; racemes 5–10 cm long, unilateral. Spikelets 5–10 cm long, in pairs;
lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
FIGURE 69. Digitaria barbinodis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from W. D. Clayton
s.n. (000211693).
61. Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler
FIGURE 70
Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler, Descr. Gram. 27. 1802.
Common names: bamboo grass, summer grass, wild crab grass.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–80 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous, tough; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent, margins smooth; oral hairs
present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex obtuse, lacerate; blades 3–20 cm long, 3–8 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending,
glabrous, margins wavy, smooth, apex acuminate. Inflorescence
composed of 2–12 digitately or subdigitately arranged, unilateral
racemes; racemes 6–22 cm long. Spikelets (2–)2.5–3.3(–3.7) mm
FIGURE 70. Digitaria ciliaris. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper (right) glumes. A drawn from
S. Soliman s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from S. Laegaard & S. Traore s.n.
(US-3595166).
NUMBER 108
long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, sharply acute; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropics, worldwide.
62. Digitaria debilis (Desf.) Willd.
•
57
bases subcordate tapering to a fine point. Inflorescences 7–20 cm
long, with 3−17 racemes 3–16 cm long, subdigitately borne on a
short, central rachis. Spikelets (2–)2.4–3.6(–4.5) mm long, paired
on a triquetrous rachis, lanceolate; lemmas awnless. Distribution:
southern Europe, tropical Africa, and western Indian Ocean.
FIGURE 71
63. Digitaria delicata Goetgh.
Digitaria debilis (Desf.) Willd., Enum. Pl. 91. 1809.
Common names: musa ladel, narkata; finger grass.
Straggling annuals. Culms 20–60 cm high, geniculately ascending from a prostrate base; branching ample from lower
nodes; internodes glabrous, striate; nodes glabrous; butt sheaths
hairy. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent, striate; ligules up to 2 mm long, eciliate membrane, apex truncate; blades
3–13 cm long, 0.2–0.6 cm wide, flat, flaccid, hairy, with fine white
midribs about ⅓ of their length, margins scabrid or pubescent,
FIGURE 71. Digitaria debilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from S. Laegaard 16218 (US-3298995).
FIGURE 72
Digitaria delicata Goetgh., Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 45: 398.
1975.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–30 cm long; erect, or geniculately ascending; branching sparse; internodes glabrous; nodes
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules
1–1.5 mm long, ciliolate membrane, apex truncate; blades 3–10
cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide, linear, flat or convolute, midribs conspicuous, scaberulous or sparingly hairy on basal ⅓; margins
FIGURE 72. Digitaria delicata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from R. A.
Farrow 81 (K).
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cartilaginous, scaberulous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence composed of 2–3 racemes, digitate, unilateral; racemes 3–6 cm long,
rachis narrowly winged, angular. Spikelets 2–2.2 mm long, in
threes, elliptic, dorsally compressed, falling entire; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
to 2 mm long, appressed; lemma awnless. Distribution: tropical
West Africa.
65. Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf
FIGURE 74
64. Digitaria delicatula Stapf
FIGURE 73
Digitaria delicatula Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 454. 1919.
Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms up to 60 cm high,
erect or slighty geniculate, slender; braching ample arising from
near the base; internodes very smooth, shining, glabrous; nodes
bearded. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths somewhat loose, the
lower ones often slipping off the internodes, coarsely striate, glabrous but basal ones usually conspicuously hairy; nodes bearded;
oral hairs bearded; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 10–20 cm
long, 0.1–0.2 cm wide, flaccid, narrowly linear, flat or convolute,
scabrous or sparingly hirsute, with a fine white midrib visible for
⅓ their length, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence
composed of 2–3, rarely 4, digitately arranged racemes on a very
slender subangular rachis; racemes 10–15 cm long. Spikelets up
FIGURE 73. Digitaria delicatula. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Part of inflorescence. E. Spikelets. A−E
drawn from C. F. Charter s.n. (US-2209017).
Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1915:
385. 1915.
Common names: fani, tau; black fonio, hungry millet, white
acha.
Annuals. Culms over 45 cm tall, erect or geniculate-ascending; branching simple or sparingly branched from below. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths firm below and somewhat loose and
slipping off above; internodes glabrous, smooth, striate; lower
sheaths more or less keeled; ligules eciliate membrane; blades
5–15 cm long, 0.3– 0.6 cm wide, linear, flat or convolute, scabrous or slightly hairy, gradually tapering to an acute point.
FIGURE 74. Digitaria exilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Kersting 193 (US-1063858).
NUMBER 108
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59
Racemes 2–4, sessile, digitate, suberect or erect, very slender;
racemes 4–10 cm long. Spikelets 1.5–2 mm long, elliptic-oblong,
acute; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
67. Digitaria gayana (Kunth) Stapf ex Chev.
66. Digitaria fragilis (Steud.) Luces
Digitaria gayana (Kunth) Stapf ex Chev., Sudania 1: 163. 1911.
Common names: debbo daneya, gague.
FIGURE 76
FIGURE 75
Digitaria fragilis (Steud.) Luces, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 32(6): 160.
1942. [Digitaria argillacea (Hitchc. and Chase) Fernald]
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–60 cm high, erect; internodes
glabrous; nodes bearded. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths covered
with short hairs; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 15–25 cm long,
3–4 mm wide; flaccid, glabrous to hairy, margins scaberulous,
bases barely rounded, apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed
of 2–4 racemes, digitate, paired; racemes 10–15 cm long, erect,
flexuous, unilateral. Spikelets in threes; fertile spikelets 1.8–2 mm
long, oblong, dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Distribution:
tropical West Africa, North America, Mexico, and South America.
FIGURE 75. Digitaria fragilis. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from E. L. Ekman 7700
(US-1297599).
Loosely caespitose or solitary annual. Culms 30–60 cm
high, erect, slender; yellowish, occasionally branching at base;
internodes glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths firm, the
lower ones longer than the internodes, striate, short hirsute; ligule an eciliate membrane, collar whitened; blades 3–15 cm long,
2–8 mm wide, broadly linear, flat, scaberulous, margins scaberulous, sometimes with scattered bulbous-based bristles, bases
slightly rounded, apex acute. Inflorescence of (1–)2–6 digitate racemes; racemes 3–18 cm long. Spikelets 2–3 mm long, narrowly
FIGURE 76. Digitaria gayana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B
drawn from Poilecot (1995).
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ovate, in clusters of 3 or 4 on a sharply triquetrous winged rachis; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
69. Digitaria longiflora (Retz.) Pers.
FIGURE 78
68. Digitaria leptorachis (Pilg.) Stapf
FIGURE 77
Digitaria longiflora (Retz.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 85. 1805.
Common names: saana voonu ana; false couch finger grass, Indian crab grass.
Digitaria leptorachis (Pilg.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 462. 1919.
Annuals, or short-lived perennials. Culms 30–100 cm high,
wiry, ascending from a decumbent base, rooting at the lower
nodes, branching from the lower nodes; internodes glabrous,
glossy; nodes villous, rarely glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths glabrous, smooth, striate, keeled; ligules eciliate membrane; blades 5–20 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, narrowly linear, pubescent or rarely glabrous, distinct white midrib visible ⅓ their
length, bases slightly narrowed, apex attenuate. Inflorescence of
5–12(–17) racemes; racemes 4–11 cm long, subdigitate or arranged on a common axis up to 10 cm long. Spikelets 1.4–2 mm
long, paired on a slender triquetrous rachis; lemmas awnless.
Distribution: tropical Africa.
FIGURE 77. Digitaria leptorachis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Part of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A−E
drawn from C. Walters & R. Niangadona 1098 (US-3526978).
Mat-forming annuals or short-lived perennials; sometimes
with short slender stolons. Culms 10–60 cm high, erect, decumbent or prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, rooting
at the nodes; branching sparse, arising from lower culms; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, usually glabrous but occasionally hirsute, compressed and keeled;
ligules 1–1.5 mm long, eciliate membrane; blades 5–10(15) cm
long, 2–6 mm wide, broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate, flat or
FIGURE 78. Digitaria longiflora. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988);
B drawn from A. J. Oakes 1237 (US-3012003).
NUMBER 108
involute, glabrous to sparsely hirsute, ribbed, margins smooth,
bases barely rounded, apex acute. Inflorescence of (1)2–4 digitate racemes; racemes 1–10 cm long. Spikelets 1.5–2.0 mm long,
elliptic, in threes on a ribbonlike winged rachis; lemma awnless.
Distribution: throughout the Eastern Hemisphere tropics; introduced to the Western Hemisphere.
70. Digitaria nuda Schumach.
FIGURE 79
Digitaria nuda Schumach., Beskr. Guin. Pl. 45. 1827.
Common names: hairy crab grass, naked crab grass, wild findi.
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61
Annuals, sometimes mat forming. Culms 15–100 cm high,
slender, creeping or decumbent; stolons present; branching
sparse, arising from lower culms, internodes glabrous; nodes
dark and subglabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths scaberulous, sometimes loosely hairy, longer than leaf blades; ligules
1–2 mm long, eciliate membrane, truncate, erose; leaf blades
5–20 cm long, 0.3–1 cm wide, linear to linear-lanceolate, flat,
scaberulous, margins scaberulous, apex acuminate. Inflorescence
of 2–10 digitately arranged racemes; racemes (3)7–12 cm long,
in one or two whorls. Spikelets 2–2.8 mm long, in pairs, oblong
to lanceolate; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa,
tropical Asia, and South America.
71. Digitaria ternata (A. Rich.) Stapf
FIGURE 80
Digitaria ternata (A. Rich.) Stapf, Fl. Cap. 7: 376. 1898.
Common names: black-seed crab grass, black-seed finger grass.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–100 cm high, geniculately ascending; branching sparse, arising from lower culms; internodes
glabrous or sparsely hairy; nodes dark and glabrous; butt sheaths
glabrous or sparsely hairy. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous to sparsely hairy; oral hairs present; ligules short, membranous, truncate; blades, 5–40 cm long, 0.3–0.8 cm wide, broadly
linear, flat, flaccid glabrous or with few fine, spreading hairs especially at the base, white fine midrib ⅓ of their length, margins
glabrous to slightly pubescent, bases rounded and sparsely hairy,
apex acute. Inflorescence of 2–11 subdigitate arranged racemes;
racemes 3–23 cm long. Spikelets 1.8–2.7 mm long, in threes on
a ribbonlike winged rachis, ovate-elliptic; lemmas awnless. Distribution: temperate and tropical Africa, North America, and
South America.
72. Diheteropogon hagerupii Hitchc.
FIGURE 81
Diheteropogon hagerupii Hitchc., Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 43: 89.
1930.
FIGURE 79. Digitaria nuda. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 100–150 cm high,
erect, slender; branching sparse, arising from lower nodes; internodes glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; leaf sheaths open,
keeled, scabrous; ligules eciliate membrane, very short; blades
5–20 cm long, 0.5–2 cm wide, glaucous, linear-lanceolate, flat,
scabrous, bases cordate, or amplexicaul. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, composed of racemes; racemes 2–6 cm long,
2 in number, paired. Spikelets 6–10 mm long, paired, dorsally
compressed; principal lemma awns 60–110 mm long overall,
arising from a sinus, bigeniculate, with twisted column, the column hirtellous with 0.5 mm long hairs. Distribution: West and
west-central Africa.
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FIGURE 81. Diheteropogon hagerupii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. A−C drawn from S. A. Gyadu 515
(US-2209051).
FIGURE 80. Digitaria ternata. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from L. Smook 2828 CA
(US-3184879).
FIGURE 82
apex attenuate. Panicles 5–12 cm long, open, oblong. Spikelets
6–12 mm long, in threes, lanceolate, laterally compressed, breaking up at maturity; lemma 3-awned, apex lobed, bifid; principal
lemma awns 15–30 mm long overall, from a sinus, geniculate,
flat below with twisted column, the column 5–8 mm long, lateral
lemma awns arising on apex of lobes, the lobes 4–8 mm long,
shorter than principal. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
Dilophotriche tristachyoides (Trin.) Jacq.-Fél., J. Agric. Trop.
Bot. Appl. 7: 408. 1960.
74. Dinebra coerulescens (Steud.)
P. M. Peterson & N. Snow
Caespitose perennials. Culms 40–120 cm long, slender, solitary, erect; branches lacking. Internodes glabrous; nodes dark.
Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths longer than leaf blades, keeled,
scabrous, ligules fringe of hairs; blades 5–20 cm long, 0.4–0.9 cm
wide, linear to linear-lanceolate, flat or convolute, scabrous,
FIGURE 83
73. Dilophotriche tristachyoides
(Trin.) Jacq.-Fél.
Dinebra coerulescens (Steud.) P. M. Peterson & N. Snow, Ann.
Bot. (Oxford), n.s. 109: 1326. 2012. [Leptochloa coerulescens Steud.]
NUMBER 108
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63
FIGURE 82. Dilophotriche tristachyoides. A. Culm. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from
T. S. Janesi 381 (US-2566173).
Solitary annuals. Culms 50–100 cm long, decumbent; internodes glabrous; nodes rooting below; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules 1–2 mm long,
an eciliate membrane; blades 5–30 cm long, 0.1–0.8 cm wide,
linear, flat or involute, glabrous with distinct white midribs for
about ⅓ their length, apex attenuate. Racemes 2–8 cm long, numerous, borne along a central axis, flexuous, unilateral; lemma
apex dentate, bifid, apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical
Africa and western Indian Ocean.
75. Echinochloa callopus (Pilg.) Clayton
FIGURE 83. Dinebra coerulescens. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from W. H. Brown
and A. H. Brown 150 (US-230841).
linear, flat or conduplicate, glaucous, scabrous, apex acuminate.
Inflorescence with numerous racemes borne along a central axis;
racemes 2–20 cm long, spreading, oblong to linear. Spikelets
3–4 mm long, ovate-elliptic, borne singly in 2 rows, appressed or
spreading; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
FIGURE 84
76. Echinochloa colona (L.) Link
Echinochloa callopus (Pilg.) Clayton, Kew Bull. 34: 560. 1980.
FIGURE 85
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–120 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending with a few branches arising below; internodes
glabrous; nodes dark. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous,
open; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 5–30 cm long, 4–10 mm wide,
Echinochloa colona (L.) Link, Hort. Berol. 2: 209. 1833.
Common names: aseral, hudo belle; jungle rice grass, Kalahari
water grass.
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FIGURE 85. Echinochloa colona. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower (left) glumes. A
drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n. (CAI); B drawn from W. Burger 2167
(US-2465212); C modified from Michael (2003).
FIGURE 84. Echinochloa callopus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from S. Laegaard
with Sobere Traore 17817 (US-3591423).
Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–100 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, margins
smooth; ligules absent; blades 3–30 cm long, 2–6 mm wide,
linear, flat, ascending, glaucous, scabrous, with midrib protruding below, margins smooth, bases broadly rounded, apex
acuminate. Racemes 0.5–3 cm long, borne along a central axis,
ascending (rarely) or appressed. Spikelets 1.5–3 mm long, in
pairs, ovate or orbicular, dorsally compressed, gibbous, apex
acute or cuspidate; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropics and
subtropics.
77. Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.)
Hitchc. & Chase
FIGURE 86
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & Chase, Contr. U.S.
Natl. Herb. 18: 345. 1917.
Common names: farka teli, fingui; antelope grass, Limpopo grass.
Solitary reedlike perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms up to
400 cm tall, bamboolike, erect, robust firm; internodes glabrous,
striate; nodes glabrous, lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths scarious,
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, glaucous,
ribbed, margins membranous; auricles clawlike; oral hairs present;
ligules 1 mm long, fringe of hairs; blades 5–50 cm long, 2–20 mm
wide, linear, flat, spreading, scabrous, with a well-defined white
midrib on lower ½, margins cartilaginous, base broadly rounded,
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 86. Echinochloa pyramidalis. A. Lower culm. B. Leaves.
C. Ligule, sheath, and blade. D. Inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A, B, D
modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); C drawn from K. Addei
592 (US-2209083); E modified from Michael (2003).
apex attenuate. Racemes 3–20 cm long, borne along a central axis,
overlapping, ascending. Spikelets 2.5–3.5(–4) mm long, in pairs,
elliptic or ovate, dorsally compressed, apex acute; lemmas usually
unawned, sometimes mucronate or with awns 2–3 mm long. Distribution: tropical southern Africa and Arabia.
78. Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv.
FIGURE 87
Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 53, 161,
171. 1812.
Common names: aluala, birbou; burgugrass, hippo grass.
Solitary perennials, sometimes behaving as annuals; rhizomes elongated. Culms up to 200 cm tall, spongy, decumbent;
internodes glabrous; nodes dark, lower nodes rooting; butt
sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
•
65
FIGURE 87. Echinochloa stagnina. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower (left) glumes.
A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from A. Pappi
s.n. (US-1984300).
glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; auricles clawlike; oral hairs
present; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 10–40 cm long, 2–10 mm
wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, glaucous with a fine white
midrib, scabrous, margins scabrid, base broadly rounded, apex
acuminate. Racemes 2–8 cm long, borne along a central axis,
overlapping, flexuous. Spikelets 3.5–6 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex acuminate; principal lemma awns
3–20(–50) mm long. Distribution: tropical Africa to India.
79. Eleusine africana Kenn.-O’Byrne
FIGURE 88
Eleusine africana Kenn.-O’Byrne, Kew Bull. 12: 65. 1957.
Common name: wild African finger millet.
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FIGURE 89. Eleusine indica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from E. C. Leonard 19514 (US-1866464);
R. Kanal 177 (US-3117706); C modified from Hilu (2003).
FIGURE 88. Eleusine africana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 6513 (CAI); B, C drawn
from J. Medley Wood 5996 (US-362820).
80. Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.
FIGURE 89
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–90 cm tall, erect, straight,
moderately robust; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, often lower
nodes rooting; butt sheaths scarious or glabrous. Leaves mostly
basal; sheaths keeled, open, glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, ciliate membrane;
blades 10–60 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, flat or conduplicate, flaccid, pilose, margins ciliate, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Inflorescence with 3−15 digitately borne racemes; racemes 4–17 cm
long, 4–8 mm wide, unilateral. Spikelets 4–8 mm long, 3−9-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 3.7−5 mm long, awnless. Caryopsis oblong. Habitat: disturbed sites, roadsides, and
a common weed of cultivation. Distribution: southern and East
Africa.
Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 8. 1788.
Common names: gondnema, so pegou; Indian goosegrass, yardgrass.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate,
subterete, usually branching at the base; internodes elliptical in
cross section, minutely ciliolate; nodes dark; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths keeled, stongly compressed, open, sparsely hairy, margins sparsely hairy; oral hairs
present; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, membranous, apex truncate;
blades 5–30 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate,
ascending, sparsely hairy, margins smooth, bases narrow, apex
NUMBER 108
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67
abruptly acute. Inflorescence with 1–10(–17) digitately borne racemes; racemes 3.5–15.5 cm long, 3–3.5 mm wide, unilateral.
Spikelets 4.6–7.8 mm long, 3−9-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 2.1−3.6 mm long, awnless. Caryopsis elliptic.
Distribution: pantropical.
exserted; racemes 6–10 cm long, single, straight, or arcuate.
Spikelets 4 mm long, in pairs; sterile spikelets well developed,
staminate, lanceolate or ovate, dorsally compressed, shorter than
fertile, deciduous with the fertile; lemmas awnless. Distribution:
tropical Africa.
81. Elionurus elegans Kunth
82. Elymandra androphila (Stapf ) Stapf
FIGURE 90
FIGURE 91
Elionurus elegans Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 161. 1829.
Common names: kamere, kilaburu, sabi.
Annuals. Culms 30–60 cm high, slender, erect; branching
sparse from midculm or lacking, internodes glabrous; nodes
bearded. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths terete; ligules very short,
membranous, densely ciliate; blades 5–8(−13) cm long, 1–2.5 cm
wide, linear, flat or involute, flaccid, glabrous or sparingly hairy
to hirsute toward the bases. Inflorescences composed of racemes;
FIGURE 90. Elionurus elegans. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from G. A. Mensah
487 (US-2209032).
Elymandra androphila (Stapf ) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 408. 1919.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 100–250 cm long, erect, terete,
rather slender; branching sparse, arising from the upper culms;
internodes glabrous; nodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous; oral hairs bearded; ligules
FIGURE 91. Elymandra androphila. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Part of inflorescence. A−D drawn
from G. A. Mensah 626 (US-2209108).
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1–2 mm long, ciliolate membrane, hyaline, pale brown, truncate; blades 30–60 cm long, 0.4–0.9 cm wide, narrowly linear,
flat or revolute with wide bases, glaucous, scabrous with conspicuous white-hyaline midribs, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence with 2 racemes, paired; racemes 2−3 cm long,
bearing few fertile spikelets, subtended by a spatheole; spatheoles
5–10 cm long, linear, scarious, glabrous. Spikelets 6–8 mm long,
paired; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
attenuate apex. Panicles 2–30 cm long, (0.3–)0.5–0.7 cm wide,
glomerate, linear, continuous, or interrupted. Spikelets 2–3.5 mm
long in clusters, subtended by an involucre composed of imperfect spikelets; lemma apex acuminate, 1-awned, principal lemma
awns 1 mm long, straight, bristle like. Distribution: tropical Africa and temperate Asia.
83. Elytrophorus spicatus (Willd.) A. Camus
FIGURE 93
FIGURE 92
Enneapogon persicus Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. ser. 1, 5: 71. 1844.
Elytrophorus spicatus (Willd.) A. Camus, Fl. Indo-Chine. 7: 547.
1923.
Common name: spike grass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate, wiry; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths persistent, pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades,
flattened, glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; ligules fringe
of hairs; blades 3–15 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, filiform, convolute,
Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–60 cm long, erect; branching sparse, arising from lower culms. Internodes glabrous; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths loose, glabrous;
ligules eciliate membrane; blades 5–25 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide,
linear, flat, or partially folded, glabrous with truncate bases and
FIGURE 92. Elytrophorus spicatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and
Kabuye (1988); B drawn from S. Laegaard 21307 (US-3432592).
84. Enneapogon persicus Boiss.
FIGURE 93. Enneapogon persicus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas,
H. Fawzy, F. Shalabi, M. Zahran 248 (CAI); B, C drawn from
M. Nath (US-2044576); H. S. Gentry 12737 (US-2153633).
NUMBER 108
ascending, stiff, pilose with capitate hairs, margins scabrous,
bases narrow; apex accuminte, spiny, pungent. Panicles 3–10 cm
long, 1.5–2 cm wide, loosely contracted to spiciform, linear or
lanceolate. Spikelets 5.5–11.5 mm long, 4-flowered, oblong,
laterally compressed; lemmas 1.2−5 mm long, 9-awned, awns
4–7 mm long, straight, bristly, ciliate below. Distribution: tropical Africa, southwestern Asia to India.
85. Eragrostis aegyptiaca (Willd.) Delile
FIGURE 94
Eragrostis aegyptiaca (Willd.) Delile, Descr. Égypte, Hist. Nat.
157, t. 4, f. 2. 1813.
•
69
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much longer
than blade, open, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present;
ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades 8–25 cm long,
1–3 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, ascending or spreading,
glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–20 cm
long, linear or lanceolate, open to somewhat contracted, embraced at base by subtending leaves; primary branches appressed
or ascending, whorled at the lower nodes. Spikelets 3.5–15 mm
long, 9−20-flowered, linear or oblong, laterally compressed;
lemmas 1.5−1.8 mm long, awnless. Distribution: Senegal, Mali,
northern Nigeria, Chad, Egypt, and Sudan.
86. Eragrostis aspera (Jacq.) Nees
FIGURE 95
Caespitose annuals. Culms 1−46(−60) cm tall, erect to decumbent and prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt
FIGURE 94. Eragrostis aegyptiaca. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 12617 (CAI); B. C drawn
from S. Laegaard 21316 (US-3432588).
Eragrostis aspera (Jacq.) Nees, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill. 408. 1841.
Common name: rough lovegrass.
FIGURE 95. Eragrostis aspera. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D modified from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from A. J. Salubeni 449 (US-2604689).
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Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–70 cm tall, erect, rough, semiterete in cross section; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves basal and cauline, glaucous; sheaths glabrous, margins
smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades 8–30 cm
long, 3–10 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, flaccid, spreading, glabrous, with white midrib recessed above and protruding on lower
⅓, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 15–40 cm long, open,
elliptic or ovate, diffuse; primary branches ascending, spreading.
Spikelets 3–10 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, 5−20-flowered, linear,
laterally compressed; lemmas 1.1−1.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat:
sandy and moist soils. Distribution: tropical southern Africa to India.
87. Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud.
FIGURE 96
Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed.
2, 1: 562. 1840.
Common names: ngwose; Thalia lovegrass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–100 cm long, geniculately
ascending; branching sparse, arising from the lower culms, internodes glabrous, semiterete, striate; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths keeled, glabrous; ligules
ciliate membrane; blades 15–30 cm long, 0.2–0.4 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, glabrous or ciliate below, margins glabrous,
apex attenuate. Panicles 4–40 cm long, open, oblong, or ovate,
contracted about primary branches. Spikelets 3–20 mm long,
solitary, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, Australia,
North and South America.
88. Eragrostis barteri C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 97
Eragrostis barteri C. E. Hubb., Fl. W. Trop. Afr. 2: 516. 1936.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 80–100 cm long, geniculately
ascending, woody, eventually collapsing and rooting from upper
nodes; branching sparse, arising from midculm; butt sheaths
glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules ciliate
membrane; blades 3–20 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, glabrous, glaucous, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–20 cm long, ovate.
Spikelets 8–16 mm long, solitary, oblong, laterally compressed;
lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
89. Eragrostis cilianensis (All.)
Vignolo ex Janch.
FIGURE 98
Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo ex Janch., Mitt. Naturwiss.
Vereins Univ. Wien, n.s. 5(9): 110. 1907.
Common names: fitirde, samba gambi; gray lovegrass, stink grass.
FIGURE 96. Eragrostis atrovirens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D modified from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from from Poilecot (1999).
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–70(−100) cm tall erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes dark; butt sheaths
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous,
ribbed, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long,
ciliate membrane; blades 3–15 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, involute,
spreading, glabrous below and scabrid above, margins glandular or eglandular and scabrid, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–30 cm
long, open or contracted, ovate, dense or loose. Spikelets
3–20 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, 8−30-flowered, oblong or ovate,
laterally compressed; lemmas 2−2.5 mm long, keel with 1−3 crateriform glands, awnless. Distribution: tropical and warm temperate regions.
NUMBER 108
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71
FIGURE 98. Eragrostis cilianensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelets. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 670 (US-320567); C
modified from Peterson (2003).
FIGURE 97. Eragrostis barteri. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from A. Voillant 2772 (US-2473043).
wide, linear, convolute, flaccid, glabrous, margins smooth or scaberulous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 1–20 cm long,
spiciform, linear or oblong, continuous or interrupted; branches
stiff, glandular. Spikelets 2–4.5 mm long, 6−12-flowered, ovate,
laterally compressed; lemmas 0.8−1.5 mm long, awnless; palea
keels pectinate-ciliate. Distribution: throughout the tropics.
90. Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br.
91. Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud.
FIGURE 99
FIGURE 100
Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br., Narr. Exped. Zaire 478. 1818.
Common names: sorgobo, subu; gophertail lovegrass, woolly
lovegrass.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate;
internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves
mainly cauline; sheaths longer than blade, slightly compressed,
open, glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules
1–2 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades 2–12 cm long, 1–3 mm
Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 266.
1854
Common names: fitti fitti, tadjit; slim-flower lovegrass.
Loosely to densely caespitose annuals. Culms 15–60 cm
high, geniculately ascending, slender; branching sparse from
lower culms; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths open, glabrous; oral hairs
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FIGURE 99. Eragrostis ciliaris. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelets. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 670 (US-320567); C
modified from Peterson (2003).
present; ligules ciliate membrane; blades 3–15 cm long; 0.1–
0.3 cm wide, linear, flat or involute, glabrous or scaberulous
above, bases very slightly rounded, apex acuminate. Panicles
6–20 cm long, ovate, branches straight. Spikelets 3–10 mm long,
solitary, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa, Asia, and South America.
92. Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin.
FIGURE 101
Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.Pétersbourg, Sér. 6, Sci. Math. 1(4): 405. 1830.
Common names: Japanese lovegrass, pond lovegrass.
FIGURE 100. Eragrostis gangetica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from P. N. de Heemo & S. O. Magaji
1960 (US-2640017).
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, ribbed, margins smooth;
oral hairs present; ligules 0.3–0.6 mm long, fringe of hairs;
blades 3–25 cm long, 1−5 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, scabrous,
bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–50 cm long, open, lanceolate or ovate. Spikelets 1–2 mm long, 4−14-flowered, oblong
or ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 0.7−1 mm long, awnless.
Habitat: sandy soils in alluvial flats and drainages. Distribution:
tropical Africa to southeastern Asia.
93. Eragrostis lingulata Clayton
FIGURE 102
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate;
internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous.
Eragrostis lingulata Clayton, Kew Bull. 20: 269. 1966.
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 101. Eragrostis japonica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n.
(CAI); B−D drawn from S. Laegaard 21316 (US-3432588).
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73
FIGURE 102. Eragrostis lingulata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Poilecot (1995).
94. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv.
Solitary annuals. Culms 8–70 cm tall, erect, branched; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal
and cauline; sheaths open, striated, glabrous, margins smooth;
oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades
2–15 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, straight, spreading, glabrous, margins smooth, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles
4–25 cm long, open, elliptic or ovate; primary branches whorled
at lower nodes, eglandular, bearded in axils. Spikelets 3–7 mm
long, 0.7–1.2 mm wide, 4−14-flowered, linear, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.2−1.7 mm long, awnless. Distribution: tropical and warm temperate regions.
FIGURE 103
95. Eragrostis plurigluma C. E. Hubb.
Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 71, 162, 175.
1812.
Common names: wolo gaman, wolo kaman; Indian lovegrass,
slender meadow grass.
FIGURE 104
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–30 cm high, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, scarious. Leaves
mostly cauline; leaf sheaths glabrous; ligules ciliate membrane;
blades 4–8 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear, flat, glaucous, pilose
above. Panicles 6–15 cm long, open, linear or elliptic, with short
primary branches. Spikelets 7–35 mm long, solitary, linear, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical West
Africa.
Eragrostis plurigluma C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934:
116. 1934.
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FIGURE 103. Eragrostis pilosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from H. A. Allard 21862 (US2236901); C modified from Peterson (2003).
Densely caespitose, perennials. Culms 60–120 cm long,
erect; glabrous at the nodes; branching sparse, rising from the
lower culms or unbranched; butt sheaths glabrous, chartaceous,
persistent. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous; ligules ciliate
membrane; blades 25–45 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide, tightly involute or convolute, glaucous, glabrous, apex attenuate or filiform. Panicles 10–30 cm long, an open panicle, effuse, branches
capillary, flexuous. Spikelets 6–7.5 mm long, solitary, elliptic,
or oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Distribution:
tropical Africa.
FIGURE 104. Eragrostis plurigluma. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from H. M. Richards 1313 (US-2612361), H. Jacques-Felix 7192 (US-2621296).
Caespitose perennials. Culms 60–150 cm long, geniculately ascending; branching ample, arising from midculm, lateral
branches fastigiated; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheath glabrous, ligules ciliate membrane, blades 5–20 cm
long; 1–3 mm wide, convolute, coriaceous, stiff, apex acuminate.
Panicles 7–17 cm long, open, oblong; branches 1–4 cm long,
stiff, spreading, bearing spikelets almost to the base. Spikelets
4–15 mm long, solitary, linear, or oblong, laterally compressed;
lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa and South America.
96. Eragrostis prolifera (Sw.) Steud.
97. Eragrostis squamata (Lam.) Steud.
FIGURE 105
FIGURE 106
Eragrostis prolifera (Sw.) Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 278. 1854.
Common name: Dominican lovegrass.
Eragrostis squamata (Lam.) Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 274. 1854.
NUMBER 108
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75
FIGURE 105. Eragrostis prolifera. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from O. Hagerup
105 (US-1718598).
FIGURE 106. Eragrostis squamata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from S. Laegaard,
H. Mipro & T. Sobere 18375A (US-3432613).
Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–120 cm long, erect. Leaves
mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous or pilose; ligules ciliate membrane; blades 5–30 cm long; 1–3(–6) mm wide; glaucous, scabrous above, apex attenuate. Panicles 6–35 cm long, an open
panicle, elliptic; primary panicle branches ascending, stiff,
straight, bearing spikelets almost to the base. Spikelets 5–25 mm
long, appressed, solitary, oblong, or ovate, laterally compressed;
lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–40 cm tall, erect; internodes
glabrous, glossy; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed margins smooth;
oral hairs present; ligules 0.2–0.3 mm long, ciliate membrane;
blades 2–8 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat, spreading, straight,
glabrous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–14 cm
long, open, narrowly ovate; primary branches spreading. Spikelets 1.5–2.5 mm long, 4−8-flowered, ovate or oblong, laterally
compressed; lemmas 0.7−1.1 mm long, awnless. Distribution:
throughout the tropics.
98. Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv.
ex Roem & Schult.
99. Eragrostis tremula Hochst. ex Steud.
FIGURE 107
FIGURE 108
Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem & Schult. Syst. Veg. 2: 576.
1817. [Eragrostis amabilis (L.) Wight and Arn.; Poa amabilis L.]
Common names: bug’s egg grass, feather lovegrass.
Eragrostis tremula Hochst. ex Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 269. 1854.
Common names: paguire jaule, wolo kaman.
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FIGURE 108. Eragrostis tremula. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from K. Ibrahim
1707 (CAI); B, D drawn from W. A. Archer 9398 (US-2236337).
FIGURE 107. Eragrostis tenella. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from J. W. Helfer 160 (CAI); B, C drawn
from S. Laegaard 15857 (US-3292354).
100. Eragrostis turgida (Schumach.) De Wild.
FIGURE 109
Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 35 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal
and cauline; sheaths glabrous with a whitened collar, margins
smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 2 mm long, ciliate membrane;
blades 8–25 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, convolute; straight; spreading, glabrous, with a whitened collar, base slightly rounded and
hairy, apex attenuate. Panicles 7–30 cm long, ovate; branches
flexuous, eglandular, glabrous or bearded in axils. Spikelets
5–25 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, 10−60-flowered, linear, laterally
compressed; lemmas 1.5−1.7 mm long, awnless. Distribution:
tropical Africa to India.
Eragrostis turgida (Schumach.) De Wild., Compagnie du Kasai
250. 1910.
Loosely tufted annuals. Culms 8–60 cm high, erect, or geniculately ascending; internodes glabrous; branching sparse, arising from the lower culms. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer
than leaf blades, compressed or keeled, glabrous; ligules ciliate
membrane; blades 4–18 cm long, 0.2–0.8 cm wide, relatively broad
leaves, linear, flat, glabrous with a whitened collar, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–14 cm long, open, oblong or ovate; branches few
flowered. Spikelets 3–20 mm long, solitary, oblong-ovate; lemmas
awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa to temperate Asia.
NUMBER 108
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FIGURE 110. Eriochloa fatmensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from P. J. Greenway 7422 (US-1913557).
FIGURE 109. Eragrostis turgida. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from John M. Fay 7327 (US3267901), William Burger 835 (US-2465207).
101. Eriochloa fatmensis
(Hochst. & Steud.) Clayton
FIGURE 110
Eriochloa fatmensis (Hochst. & Steud.) Clayton, Kew Bull. 30:
108. 1975.
Common names: ants millet, tropical cup grass.
Caespitose variable annuals. Culms 10–120 cm long, erect,
or geniculately ascending; internodes glabrous, striate; nodes
dark; branching ample, arising from mid culm; butt sheaths
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, finely
nerved; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 3–30 cm long, 2–10 mm
wide, linear-lanceolate, flat or folded, glabrous, bases slightly
rounded, apex acuminate. Inflorescence 3–20 racemes borne
along a central axis, unilateral; racemes 1–5 cm long. Spikelets
(2.5–)3–5 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, dorsally compressed,
acuminate; principal lemma mucronate, the mucros 0.3–1 mm
long. Distribution: tropical Africa, temperate Asia, India, and
Australia.
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102. Euclasta condylotricha
(Hochst. ex Steud.) Stapf
FIGURE 111
Euclasta condylotricha (Hochst. ex Steud.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr.
9: 181. 1917. [Dichanthium condylotrichum (Hochst. ex
Steud.) Roberty]
Common name: mock bluestem.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 25–200 cm long, prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded, lower nodes rooting; branching
sparse on the lower culms; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal
and cauline; sheaths glabrous with sparsely hairy shoulders;
ligules 0.2 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades 5–25 cm long;
0.2–1 cm wide, glabrous, distinct white midrib visible for about
½ their length, bases rounded, margins scabrous, apex attenuate.
Inflorescences composed of racemes. Racemes 2–5 cm long, 2–15,
FIGURE 111. Euclasta condylotricha. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Renvoize & Abdallah 2377
(US-2769371).
digitate, drooping. Spikelets 3–4 mm long, paired, elliptic, dorsally compressed; lemma apex entire, 1-awned; principal lemma
awns 20–40 mm long, geniculate with a twisted column. Distribution: tropical Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America.
103. Hackelochloa granularis (L.) Kuntze
FIGURE 112
Hackelochloa granularis (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 776.
1891. [Mnesithea granularis (L.) de Koning and Sosef]
Common names: bambari ladde, ngoriri; hare’s maze, lizard-tail
grass.
Coarse annuals. Culms 5–50 cm high, erect; internodes
glabrous, glossy; nodes bearded; branching sparse, arising from
FIGURE 112. Hackelochloa granularis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from E. Milne-Redhead &
P. Taylor 9047 A (US-2461364).
NUMBER 108
midculm; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. Leaves mostly cauline; leaf
sheaths loose or inflated, slightly compressed or keeled, hirsute
with tubercle-based hairs, margins ciliate; ligules 2−3 mm long,
ciliolate membrane; blades 2–15 cm long, 0.4–1.2 cm wide, linear to lanceolate, flat, hirsute or coarsely hispid with tuberclebased hairs, with finely recessed midribs, margins ciliate, bases
subamplexicaul or cordate, acute apex. Racemes 0.5–1.5 cm
long, exserted or embraced at base by subtending spatheole.
Spikelets 1.6−2.2 mm long, pedicellate, in pairs; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: throughout the tropics.
104. Hemarthria altissima (Poir.)
Stapf & C. E. Hubb.
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79
Common names: Batavian quick grass, red swamp grass, snake
grass.
Caespitose perennials, stolons present. Culms 100–250 cm
tall, decumbent or prostrate; branching from midculm; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded, dark, lower nodes rooting; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy on the
upper ⅓, margins smooth, collars ciliate; ligules 1–2 mm long,
ciliate membrane; blades 5–15 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear,
flat, spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins cartilaginous, apex
acute. Racemes 4–10 cm long, single, erect, partially enclosed
in sheaths, smooth. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate,
dorsally compressed; lemma apex acute, awnless. Distribution:
southern Europe and Africa.
FIGURE 113
105. Hyparrhenia cyanescens (Stapf) Stapf
Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf and C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc.
Inform. Kew 1934: 109. 1934.
FIGURE 114
Hyparrhenia cyanescens (Stapf) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 351. 1919.
Caespitose perennials, rhizomes short. Culms 200–300 cm
long, 4–8 mm in diameter, erect or geniculately ascending, robust; internodes smooth, solid; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves
mostly cauline; sheaths firm, terete, glabrous; auricles 1–6 mm
long, sometimes absent, erect; ligules 2–3 mm long, membranous, scarious, truncate; blades 15–50 cm long, 3–8 mm wide,
FIGURE 113. Hemarthria altissima. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Part of inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n. (CAI); C, D drawn from A. J. Oakes 1517 (US-3030926); B
drawn from Poilecot (1999).
FIGURE 114. Hyparrhenia cyanescens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D Bogdan Collection,
NARS, Kitale, Kenya; B drawn from Poilecot (1999).
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linear, flat, glaucous, glabrous, midrib whitish above and prominent below, margins scabrous, bases tapering toward midrib,
apex attenuate. Inflorescence terminal and axillary, subtended
by a spatheole, exserted or embraced at base by subtending
leaf; spatheoles 3.5–5 cm long, linear, or lanceolate, membranous, glaucous, purple, glabrous; racemes 1.7–2.5 cm long, 2
in number, paired, deflexed. Spikelets 4.5–6 mm long, in pairs,
lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemma apex dentate, bidentate,
awned; principal lemma awns 28–34 mm long from the sinus, geniculate, with a twisted column; column with hairs 0.2–0.4 mm
long. Distribution: tropical Africa.
106. Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf
FIGURE 115
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 304. 1918.
Common names: jaragua grass, thatching grass.
Caespitose perennials, rhizomes short. Culms 30–250 cm
tall, 2–6 mm in diameter near base, robust, erect, lateral
branches fastigiated, arising from lower culms; internodes glabrous, solid; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly
cauline; sheaths glabrous; wider than blades at the collar; ligules 2–3 mm long, eciliate membrane; blades 30–60 cm long,
2–8 mm wide, linear, flat, rigid, scabrous, margins smooth, apex
attenuate. Inflorescence composed of racemes, subtended by a
spatheole, exserted; spatheoles 3–5 cm long, linear to lanceolate,
membranous; racemes 2–2.5 cm long, paired, erect, unilateral.
Spikelets 3.5–4.5 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemma apex dentate; bidentate, awned; principal lemma
awns 20–30 mm long from the sinus, geniculate, with a twisted,
pubescent column. Distribution: tropical Africa and southern
Africa; introduced in tropical America and Australia.
107. Hyparrhenia subplumosa Stapf
FIGURE 116
Hyparrhenia subplumosa Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 366. 1918.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 200–300 cm tall, erect, robust; branching ample, arising from lower culms; internodes
glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths
terete, firm, pale green or glaucous, glabrous or pilose; oral hairs
bearded; ligules 2–3 mm long, ciliate membrane, scarious, truncate; blades 20–60 cm long, 0.3–1 cm wide, linear, flat, or slightly
folded, glaucous; midribs prominent beneath, whitish, glabrous
above, hirsute or sparsely hairy below, margins scabrous, bases
narrowed, simple or slightly narrowed bases, apex acuminate.
Inflorescences synflorescence compound, paniculate 20–50 cm
long. Spatheoles 3–7 cm long, lanceolate, membranous, glaucous, or purple. Spikelets 6.5–7.5 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate,
dorsally compressed; principal lemma awns 45–75 mm long
overall, from a sinus, geniculate, with twisted column. Distribution: tropical Africa.
108. Hyperthelia dissoluta (Nees ex Steud.)
Clayton
FIGURE 117
Hyperthelia dissoluta (Nees ex Steud.) Clayton, Kew Bull. 20:
441. 1966.
Common names: neanso, ntaso; yellow hard grass, yellow
thatching grass.
FIGURE 115. Hyparrhenia rufa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from H. B. Johnston 1181 (US-1818182).
Caespitose perennials. Culms 100–300 cm long, erect;
branches arising from the lower culms; internodes glabrous;
butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths keeled,
scabrous with membranous margins; auricles erect or absent;
ligules 2–3(–24) mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades
15–30 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, glaucous, flat, scabrous with pale
NUMBER 108
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81
FIGURE 117. Hyperthelia dissoluta. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from PCV du Toit
1109 (US-2969747), L. Smook 930 (US- 2988270).
109. Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
FIGURE 116. Hyparrhenia subplumosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. A−C drawn from A. T. Semple 167 (US2076164), L. Smook 930 (US-2988270).
whitish midribs slightly recessed above and protruding below
on the lower ½, margins smooth, apex attenuate. Racemes
2–3 cm long, embraced at base by subtending leaf; spatheoles
5–7 cm long, lanceolate, scarious, glabrous or hirsute; racemes
2–3 cm long, paired, erect. Spikelets 10–14 mm long, in pairs,
linear, subterete; principal lemma awns 50–100 mm long from
a sinus, geniculate, the column twisted, hirtellos. Distribution:
tropical Africa to western Indian Ocean; North and South
America.
FIGURE 118
Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 8, 165, 177,
pl. 5, f. 1. 1812.
Common names: gombi, soyo; cogon grass, lalang grass.
Caespitose perennials with elongated, scaly rhizomes. Culms
10–100 cm tall, erect; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths sparsely hairy on
the upper ⅓, margins sparsely hairy; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate
membrane; blades 3–80 cm long, 2–20 mm wide, flat or conduplicate, ascending, scabrous, margins scaberulous, apex acute.
Panicles 3–22 cm long, spiciform, linear; primary branches appressed to a central axis, with evident branchlets on axis, each
branch bearing few fertile spikelets; rachis tough, subterete;
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FIGURE 118. Imperata cylindrica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Part of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A, C
drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B, D, E drawn from J. Ash s.n.
(US-2819790).
internodes filiform. Spikelets 2.2–6 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, subterete, falling entire; callus bearded, hairs white, base
truncate; lower lemmas about 1.4 mm long, awnless. Distribution: tropical and warm temperate regions in the Eastern Hemisphere; introduced in North America.
110. Ischaemum polystachyum J. Presl
FIGURE 119
Ischaemum polystachyum J. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 328. 1830.
Common name: paddle grass.
FIGURE 119. Ischaemum polystachyum. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. A−C drawn from V. Demoalin
5791 (US-3287877) and P. Hiepkoet, W. Schultze & Molel 1012
(US-3012438).
glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules 2.5 mm
long, membranous; blades 5–25 cm long, 0.3–2 cm wide, linearlanceolate, glabrous or pubescent, apex acuminate. Inflorescence
with 2–5(–8) paired or digitate racemes; racemes 3–15 cm long,
unilateral. Spikelets 4–7 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate or oblong,
dorsally compressed; principal lemma awns 5–20 mm long from
a sinus, geniculate, column twisted, glabrous. Distribution: tropical Africa to western Indian Ocean, temperate Asia and Australia.
111. Lasiurus scindicus Henrard
FIGURE 120
Perennials with elongated rhizomes. Culms 30–150 cm long,
decumbent, or prostrate; branching from midculm; internodes glabrous; nodes without roots or rooting from below; butt sheaths
Lasiurus scindicus Henrard, Blumea 4: 514. 1941.
Common name: sewan grass.
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 120. Lasiurus scindicus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn
from A. Rawi, R. Jalili & A. Amer s.n. (US-2970973).
Caespitose perennials with short, thick, woody, scaly rhizomes. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect, straight, often woody
below; branching sparsely below, simple or suffruticose; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths sparsely hairy, often
silky. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths longer than blade, flattened, ribbed, hairy on the upper ⅓, margins smooth; ligules
fringe of hairs; blades 8–30 cm long, 1–3(–6) mm wide, flat or
involute, spreading, flaccid, glaucous, glabrous, margins smooth,
apex attenuate. Racemes 5–12 cm long, single, surrounded by
hairs, partially included in the sheath; rachis fragile at the nodes,
flattened, glabrous, pubescent or villous, ciliate on margins; rachis internodes cuneate, disarticulating horizontally. Spikelets
7–9 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 3 at a node, falling as a unit; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical East Africa,
temperate Asia, and northwestern India.
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83
FIGURE 121. Leersia hexandra. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Part of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A drawn
from Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, E drawn from J. Newbould & R. M.
Harley 4434 (US 2473157); C, D modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
112. Leersia hexandra Sw.
FIGURE 121
Leersia hexandra Sw., Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ. 21. 1788.
Common names: rice grass, southern cut grass, white grass.
Mat-forming perennials with long, stout-branched, elongated rhizomes. Culms 20–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate, slender, weak or stout; branching sparse, arising from midculm or
unbranched; internodes pubescent or smooth, striate; nodes
bearded, dark, lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves
mostly basal; sheaths glabrous or scabrous, margins smooth;
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auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2(–4) mm long, a ciliate membrane,
truncate; blades 5–20 cm long, 1–3(–8) mm wide, flat, spreading, flaccid, glaucous, scabrous, midribs indistinct and slightly
recessed above and protruding below with scabrid retrorse hairs,
margins scabrous, apex acute-acuminate. Panicles 5–12 cm long,
1–4 cm wide, open, elliptic or oblong; primary branches bearing
spikelets almost to the base. Spikelets (3.2–)3.4–4.8(–5.2) mm
long, (1–)1.2–1.4(–1.7) mm wide, oblong, laterally compressed,
falling as a unit; lemmas awnless; anthers 6 in number. Distribution: throughout the tropics.
Caespitose, short-lived perennials. Culms up to 75 cm tall,
wiry, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much longer than the blade, flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 2–10 cm long, 1–2 mm
wide, involute, spreading, straight, scabrous, margins smooth,
apex attenuate. Inflorescence composed of racemes borne along
a central axis; racemes 2–17 cm long, spreading, cuneate, bearing few fertile spikelets. Spikelets 2.5–8 mm long, linear to lanceolate, laterally compressed, in pairs, gibbous; lemmas awnless.
Distribution: tropical Africa and southwestern Asia.
113. Leptothrium senegalense (Kunth) Clayton
114. Loudetia hordeiformis (Stapf) C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 122
FIGURE 123
Leptothrium senegalense (Kunth) Clayton, Kew Bull. 27: 151.
1972.
Common names: ainguiem, firri; hook grass.
Loudetia hordeiformis (Stapf) C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform.
Kew 1934: 431. 1934.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 40–150 cm tall, slender, erect; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves
mostly cauline; sheaths finely striate with short, stiff, tuberculate
hairs; ligules with densely ciliate rims; blades 15–30 cm long,
FIGURE 122. Leptothrium senegalense. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Two spikelets. A, C, D modified
from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from O. Hagerup 206
(US-1718603).
FIGURE 123. Loudetia hordeiformis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Poilecot
(1999).
NUMBER 108
4–8 mm wide, flat, loosely to densely hairy, minutely tuberculate,
purplish above, margins tending to roll inward, scabrid, bases
narrowed to barely rounded, apex acute, sometimes setaceous.
Panicles 15–30 cm long, 0.4–2 cm wide. Spikelets 12–20 mm
long, solitary, lanceolate, laterally compressed; lemma apex dentate, with triangular lobes, acute, awned; principal lemma awns
8–10 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, flattened below, column
twisted and deciduous. Distribution: tropical Africa.
115. Loudetia phragmitoides
(Peter) C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 124
Loudetia phragmitoides (Peter) C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform.
Kew 1934: 428. 1934.
Common name: erapo grass.
•
85
Perrenials, reedlike. Culms 200–400 cm long, erect, stout,
woody; sparsely branching below; internodes distally glabrous or
hirsute; nodes bearded; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths longer than the internodes, tough, coarsely striate upward, densely pilose, villous, or hispid and tuberculate especially near summit; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 50–100 cm
long, 1–2 cm wide, flat or convolute, stiff, erect, strongly nerved,
densely and softly pilose or glabrous, scaberulous above, margins scabrid, apex attenuate. Panicles 40–60 cm long, oblong.
Spikelets 6–7 mm long, solitary, laterally compressed; lemma
apex dentate, bidentate with triangular lobes, acute, awned;
principal lemma awns 10–20 mm long from a sinus, geniculate,
flattened below, column 1.5–3 mm long, twisted, persistent. Distribution: tropical Africa.
116. Loudetia simplex (Nees) C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 125
Loudetia simplex (Nees) C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew
1934: 431. 1934.
Common names: besem grass, russet grass.
FIGURE 124. Loudetia phragmitoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1999).
FIGURE 125. Loudetia simplex. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from Plantae Angolensium Gossweilerii 8561 (US-1162229).
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Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–150 cm long, erect;
branching below; internodes glabrous, pubescent or pilose;
nodes black, glabrous or bearded; butt sheaths pubescent or
woolly, persistent with fibrous dead sheaths. Leaves mostly
basal; sheaths glabrous; ligules densely ciliolate rim; blades
10–30 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, flat or convolute, scabrous,
sometimes almost falsely petiolated, apex attenuate. Panicles
10–30 cm long, linear to ovate. Spikelets 8–13 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, slightly laterally compressed; lemma apex bidentate with triangular lobes, acute, the lobes 0.2–1 mm long,
awned; principal lemma awns 25–50 mm long from a sinus,
geniculate, flat below, column twisted and deciduous. Distribution: tropical Africa to western Indian Ocean.
117. Loudetia togoensis (Pilg.) C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 126
Loudetia togoensis (Pilg.) C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew
1934: 431. 1934.
Common names: firala nkasan, gombi sogo, nkasan.
Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect,
or geniculately ascending; branching below; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules fringe
of hairs; blades 2.5–20 cm long, 0.2–1 cm wide, flat, pubescent,
white midrib recessed above and protruding below on lower
⅓, apex attenuate. Panicles 6–25 cm long, lanceolate; spikelets 22–27 mm long, in threes, lanceolate, laterally compressed;
lemma margins involute and interlocking with palea keels; principal lemma awns 9–20 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, subterete below, column twisted, deciduous, the column 1.5–4 mm
long, hirsute. Distribution: tropical Africa.
118. Loudetiopsis kerstingii (Pilg.) Conert
FIGURE 126. Loudetia togoensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from B. Brand 474
(US-2209025).
FIGURE 127
Loudetiopsis kerstingii (Pilg.) Conert, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 77: 289.
1957.
119. Micrachne obtusiflora
(Benth.) P. M. Peterson
Caespitose or solitary, annuals. Culms 45–100 cm long;
geniculately ascending or decumbent; branching below; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded, dark; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous except for a densely
velvety hairy covering at the base; ligules fringe of hairs; blades
10–20 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide, aciculate or linear, flat or
involute. Panicles 5–12 cm long, oblong. Spikelets 14–17 mm
long, in threes, lanceolate, slightly laterally compressed; lemma
apex lobed; principal lemma awns 70–120 mm long from a
sinus, geniculate, flat below, column twisted, deciduous, the
column 30–40 mm long, pubescent. Distribution: tropical West
Africa.
FIGURE 128
Micrachne obtusiflora (Benth.) P. M. Peterson, Taxon 64(3):
459. 2015. [Brachyachne obtusiflora (Benth.) C. E. Hubb.]
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–20(–25) cm tall, slender,
erect or geniculately ascending, leafy throughout; branching
below; internodes glabrous; nodes dark. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than leaf blades, glabrous; ligules ciliolate
membrane; blades 0.5–3.5(–5) cm long, needlelike, spreading,
strongly revolute, often recurved, glabrous with apiculate apex.
Inflorescence composed of a single raceme; racemes 3–6 cm long,
NUMBER 108
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FIGURE 127. Loudetiopsis kerstingii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Ake Assi
9271 (US-1162229), J. B. Hall 776 (US-3115060).
FIGURE 128. Micrachne obtusiflora. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from C. W.
Agyakwa 454 (US-2209014).
slender, erect or slightly curved, unilateral. Spikelets 2.2–2.5 mm
long, packed broadside to rachis, crowded, regular, 2-rowed,
with a single fertile floret, oblong, laterally compressed; lemma
apex emarginate, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
Spikelets 1.7–2.9 mm long, solitary, lanceolate, slightly dorsally
compressed; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical
Africa, temperate Asia, South America, and Australia.
121. Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P. Beauv.
120. Microchloa indica (L.f.) P. Beauv.
FIGURE 130
FIGURE 129
Microchloa indica (L.f.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. Atlas: 13, pl.
20, f. 8. 1812.
Common names: dugu konsina, fukobi, kulumbi.
Caespitose annuals or perennials. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect,
wiry, forming small dense mats; with a few branches below; butt
sheaths withering. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, slightly
compressed; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 1–8(–11) cm long,
0.3−2 mm wide, filiform, flat, or conduplicate, apex abruptly
acute or obtuse. Racemes, 1.4–15 cm long, solitary, unilateral.
Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 54, 168, 170.
1812.
Common names: basket grass, ribbon grass, woods grass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 15–100 cm long, prostrate, solitary; internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes pubescent, lower nodes
rooting. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous to sparsely hairy,
ribbed, margins ciliate, collars ciliate; ligules ciliate membrane;
blades 1–13 cm long, 0.4–2 cm wide, lanceolate to ovate, glabrous to sparsely hairy, bases almost petiolated, apex acuminate.
Inflorescences 3–15 cm long, comprising 3–9 racemes, racemes
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FIGURE 129. Microchloa indica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1999).
0.5–3 cm long. Spikelets 2–4 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, laterally compressed. Lemma apex acute, awnless. Distribution: tropics, worldwide.
FIGURE 130. Oplismenus hirtellus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence branch. A−C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
122. Oropetium aristatum (Stapf) Pilg.
Spikelets 3–3.5 mm long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; callus pubescent; lemma apex bidentate, awned; principal lemma awns 2–2.5 mm long from a sinus. Distribution:
tropical West Africa.
FIGURE 131
123. Oropetium capense Stapf
Oropetium aristatum (Stapf) Pilg., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 74: 14. 1947.
Common names: dedu ia, dedu na, dedu ya.
FIGURE 132
Mat-forming annuals. Culms 5–10 cm long, erect or geniculate; branching below. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths tightly
rolled, glabrous; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 1–2 cm long,
about 0.5 mm wide, involute, filiform, needlelike, glabrous,
apex acuminate. Racemes 1–2 cm long, single; rachis fragile at
the nodes, subcylindrical, the spikelets embedded in two rows.
Oropetium capense Stapf, Fl. Cap. 7: 742. 1900.
Common names: dedu ia, dedu na, dedu ya; dwarf grass.
Loosely to densely caespitose perennials. Culms 3–14
cm long, erect; branching below; internodes glabrous; butt
sheaths persistent and investing base of culms, with fibrous
dead sheaths. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous; ligules
NUMBER 108
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FIGURE 131. Oropetium aristatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Raceme. D. Spikelet. A−C Bogdan Collection, NARS,
Kitale, Kenya.
ciliolate membrane; blades 1–4 cm long, 0.5–1.2 mm wide, filiform, flat or conduplicate, stiff, apex obtuse or acute. Racemes
2–3(–10) cm long, single, straight or curved, rachis fragile at
the nodes, subcylindrical. Spikelets 2–3(–4) mm long, embedded in two rows, 1-flowered, lanceolate, dorsally compressed;
callus pubescent; lemma apex bidentate, awnless. Distribution:
tropical and temperate Africa.
FIGURE 132. Oropetium capense. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye
(1988); B drawn from Penne E. Matteoda 2124 (US-1984417).
124. Oryza barthii A. Chev.
awns (65–)80–160(–190) mm long, pink, hispidulous, stiff. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
FIGURE 133
125. Oryza brachyantha A. Chev. & Roehr.
Oryza barthii A. Chev., Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 16: 405. 1910.
Common names: kumo ara pilu; Mandinka rice, wild rice.
FIGURE 134
Caespitose annuals. Culms 60–120 cm long, geniculately
ascending, or decumbent, spongy; branching below; internodes
glabrous; nodes glabrous, rooting below. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths scarious, striate, somewhat firm when young later
loose and usually wrinkled with age, smooth, glabrous, slightly
compressed toward apex; auricles erect; ligules 2–6 mm long,
eciliate membrane, truncate or obtuse; blades 15–45 cm long,
0.4–1.3 cm wide, scaberulous, margins scabrous, apex acute to
acuminate. Panicles 20–35 cm long, 3–7.5 cm wide, open, obovate. Spikelets 7–11 mm long, solitary, oblong, laterally compressed; lemma apex with a small beak, awned; principal lemma
Oryza brachyantha A. Chev. & Roehr., Compt. Rend. Hebd.
Séances Acad. Sci. 159: 561. 1914.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–80(–100) cm tall, decumbent, or prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, rooting
below. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths smooth, glabrous; auricles falcate; ligules 1–2 mm long, eciliate membrane, entire or
lacerate, truncate; blades 7–19 cm long, 1−5 mm wide, linear,
glabrous or scaberulous below, scaberulous above, tapering to
an acute point, green often tinged with purple, flaccid, smooth
or somewhat asperulous above and along the margins, margins
scaberulous, apex acute. Panicles 13–30 cm long, 2.5–5 cm wide,
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FIGURE 133. Oryza barthii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from E. J. Adjanohoun
279A (US-2433428).
open, ovate. Spikelets 6.5–9.25 mm long, solitary, oblong, laterally compressed; principal lemma awn 7–17 cm long, very
slender, straight or somewhat wavy in upper ⅓, scabrous. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
FIGURE 134. Oryza brachyantha. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Part of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A–D
drawn from Ake Assi 9261 (US-2537423).
or oblong. Spikelets 7–12 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed;
principal lemma awn (26–)40–75 mm long. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa to west Indian Ocean.
126. Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. & Roehr.
127. Oryza sativa L.
FIGURE 135
FIGURE 136
Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. and Roehr., Compt. Rend. Hebd.
Séances Acad. Sci. 159: 561. 1914.
Common names: bahure, ndiga; African rice, red rice.
Oryza sativa L., Sp. Pl. 1: 333. 1753.
Common names: malo; Asian rice, paddy.
Robust perennials with long, creeping, branched rhizomes.
Culms up to 250 cm, 5–10 mm in diameter near base, geniculately ascending or decumbent, spongy; internodes glabrous;
nodes dark, rooting below. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
smooth, glabrous, scarious and spongy; auricles 10–15 mm long,
erect; ligules 15–45 mm long, eciliate membrane, entire, lacerate
or acute; blades 10–75 cm long; 5–25 mm wide, linear-lanceolate
to very narrowly elliptic, broadest below the middle, bright to
dark green, somewhat flaccid, scaberulous, midrib indistinct or
evident, margins scabrous, bases narrowed or tapered to a false
petiole, apex acuminate. Panicles 16–40 cm long, open, elliptic,
Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 150 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; auricles clawlike or erect; ligules up to 10 mm long, membranous,
apex lacerate, acute; blades 10–50 cm long, 4–10 mm wide, flat,
spreading, straight, scaberulous, glabrous or pubescent, margins
scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 20–50 cm long, lanceolate,
equilateral or nodding. Spikelets 8–11 mm long, 2.5–3.5 mm
wide, elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas unawned
or awned, the awns up to 16 mm long; stamens 6. Distribution:
Warm temperate regions.
NUMBER 108
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FIGURE 136. Oryza sativa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A drawn from El Hadidi s.n. (CAI), Ibrahim and Kabuye
(1988); B, C drawn from P. Taylor 9367 (US-2461385).
FIGURE 135. Oryza longistaminata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from B. de Winter 745
(US- 2075887).
128. Oxytenanthera abyssinica
(A. Rich.) Munro
FIGURE 137
Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc.
London 26(1): 127. 1868. [Bambusa abyssinica A. Rich.]
Common names: bo, dianacare, kore: Bindura bamboo, Holy
Venda bamboo, savanna bamboo, wine bamboo.
Caespitose perennials with short rhizomes. Culms 3–10
m tall, 5–10 cm thick, robust, woody, erect, bamboolike, lateral branches well developed from midculm nodes and above;
internodes solid or thick walled, smooth; nodes slightly inflated. Leaves mostly cauline, deciduous; sheaths hispid with
with dark brown stiff hairs when young, later glabrous; oral
hairs ciliate; ligules eciliate membrane; blades 5–25 cm long,
1–3 cm wide, constricted at base to a petiolelike connection,
linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, surfaces glaucous, glabrous or
with few appressed hairs below near the midvien, stiff, venation with obscure veins, bases broadly rounded, margins scabrous, apex acuminate, pungent. Inflorescence a dense globose
cluster of spikelets 7–9 cm in diameter, each head consisting of
several spikelet clusters subtended by papery ovate sheath with
reduced blades. Spikelets 15–45 mm long, lanceolate, laterally
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FIGURE 137. Oxytenanthera abyssinica. A. Habit B. Ligule, sheath
apex, and leaf blade. C Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B. drawn from N. K. B. Robson 1034 (US-3000875).
compressed; lemma awned, the awns 2−7 mm long. Distribution: tropical Africa.
FIGURE 138. Panicum anabaptistum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from F. Seiner 529 (US-733010).
129. Panicum anabaptistum Steud.
FIGURE 138
Panicum anabaptistum Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 75. 1853.
Common names: iufane, paguiri mayo, suebee.
Caespitose perennials with short rhizomes. Culms 100–
150 cm long, erect, or geniculately ascending, branching; internodes glabrous, smooth, dark. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
firm, usually glabrous and smooth, rarely hirsute, closely striate;
oral hairs sometimes bearded; ligules ciliate membrane; blades
10–30(–40) cm long, 4–6 mm wide, linear, flat, glaucous, glabrous with simple or slightly narrowed base, apex acute. Panicles
15–30 cm long, oblong. Spikelets 3.6–4.3 mm long, solitary, oblong, dorsally compressed, acuminate; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
130. Panicum antidotale Retz.
FIGURE 139
Panicum antidotale Retz., Observ. Bot. 4: 17. 1786. [Panicum
subalbidum Kunth]
Common names: blue panic, blue panicum, giant panic grass.
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 139. Panicum antidotale. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower
(left) glumes. A drawn from M. Kassas s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from
F. Starr 020201-1 (US-3437456); D modified from Freckman and
Lelong (2003).
Robust annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 60–200 cm
high, wiry, erect or decumbent; internodes glabrous; lower nodes
rooting or not, brown, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, papery.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, often purple, ribbed;
ligules ciliate membrane; blades 10–60 cm long, 0.7–2 cm wide,
linear, flat or involute, glabrous or pilose, ribbed, bases simple
or cordate, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–45 cm long, oblong or
ovate. Spikelets 2.4–3.4 mm long, solitary, ovate, dorsally compressed, acuminate; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution:
tropical and temperate Africa and western Indian Ocean.
•
93
FIGURE 140. Panicum callosum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from O. Hagerup 481 (US-1718616).
Annuals. Culms 80–100 cm long, erect, robust. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths hairy; ligules ciliate membrane; blades
5–40 cm long, 0.4–1 cm wide, linear, flat or involute, hairy, apex attenuate. Panicles 15–30 cm long, open, obovate; primary branches
10–20 cm long, whorled at lower nodes, stiff. Spikelets 5–6 mm
long, solitary, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, acuminate; lemma
apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
132. Panicum fluviicola Steud.
131. Panicum callosum Hochst.
FIGURE 141
FIGURE 140
Panicum callosum Hochst., Schimp. Iter. Abyss. Sectio III, 1713.
1844. [Panicum nigerense Hitchc.]
Panicum fluviicola Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 89. 1854. [Panicum aphanoneurum Stapf]
Common names: ghonya, gonya.
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FIGURE 141. Panicum fluviicola. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from S. Laegaard
15982 (US-3292316).
FIGURE 142. Panicum laetum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from A. Pappi 6045 (US-2874920).
Robust to slender, tufted or solitary perennials with short
rhizomes. Culms (30–)60–230 cm high, erect; branching sparsely
from midculm; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths occasionally hairy,
margins ciliate or glabrous, often purple tinged, ligules ciliolate
membrane; blades (13–)25–50 cm long, 0.3–1.2 cm wide, linear,
flat or partially folded especially toward the base, glabrous or pilose, with an inconspicous greenish-white midrib slightly recessed
above and protruding below; apex firm with a hardened point,
almost pungent. Panicles 10–45 cm long, open, oblong. Spikelets
2–2.5(–3) mm long solitary, ovate, dorsally compressed; lemma
apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 17–70 cm long, erect
or geniculately ascending; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal
and cauline; sheaths glabrous, rarely pilose; ligules ciliate membrane; blades 4–24 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, linear or lanceolate, midrib scabrous, margins scabrid, bases broadly rounded,
glabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 7–20 cm long, open, ovate;
primary branches spreading. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm long, solitary,
ovate, dorsally compressed, acute; lemma apex obtuse, awnless.
Distribution: tropical Africa and western Indian Ocean.
133. Panicum laetum Kunth
134. Panicum repens L.
FIGURE 142
FIGURE 143
Panicum laetum Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 2: t. 113. 1831.
Common names: balbaldi, paguiri; wild fonio, wild hungry rice,
fonio of the birds.
Panicum repens L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 1: 87. 1762.
Common names: bama subu; couch panicum, torpedo grass,
Victoria grass.
NUMBER 108
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FIGURE 144. Panicum tenellum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Poilecot
(1999).
135. Panicum tenellum Lam.
FIGURE 144
Panicum tenellum Lam., Tabl. Encycl. 1: 173. 1791.
FIGURE 143. Panicum repens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (left) and lower
(right) glumes. A drawn from J. Osborn & I. Helmy s.n. (CAI); B,
C drawn from A. C. Thomas 861 (US-1538900); D modified from
Freckman and Lelong (2003).
Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated; stolons sometimes present. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, often with swollen
bulblike base, glabrous; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves distichous,
basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, sparsely hairy, margins woolly
at least when young; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 5–20 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear, flat or
revolute, spreading, stiff, coriaceous, hairy, margins ciliate, apex
attenuate and spiny, pungent. Panicles 5–20 cm long, open, oblong. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, apex
acute; lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropics and subtropics.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–35 cm long, erect, slender;
branching ample, often fascicled, arising below. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths longer than blade, striate glabrous; ligules eciliate
membrane; blades 2.5–9 cm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, filiform, flaccid,
flat or involute, glabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–11 cm long,
open, oblong, or ovate; branches capillary. Spikelets 1–1.5 mm
long, solitary, oblanceolate, ovate or orbicular, dorsally compressed; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
136. Panicum turgidum Forssk.
FIGURE 145
Panicum turgidum Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 18. 1775.
Common names: afazo, afezu; basket grass, desert grass, Sahara
millet.
Caespitose perennial forming rounded bushes; rhizomes
elongated. Culms up to 100 cm tall, solid, woody, erect, tough,
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FIGURE 146. Panicum walense. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Chevalier 2235 (US-1715361).
FIGURE 145. Panicum turgidum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 644 (CAI); B, C
drawn from G. Schweinfurth 84 (US-823864).
ribbed; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths sparsely
hairy. Leaves distichous, glaucous, basal and cauline; sheaths
much longer than blades, overlapping, ribbed, glabrous, margins
membranous; oral hairs present; ligules ciliate membrane; blades
2–15 cm long, 1–6 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, convolute, spreading, stiff, coriaceous, glabrous, margins smooth, apex spiny, pungent. Panicles 2.5–15(–30) cm long, open, pyramidal. Spikelets
(3.1–)3.4–4.5(–5) mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, falling
entire, apex acute or acuminate; lemma awnless. Habitat: sandy
soils. Distribution: temperate and tropical Africa and Asia.
137. Panicum walense Mez
Caespitose annuals. Culms 18–70(–90) cm long, erect or geniculate, slender; sometimes quite short; internodes glabrous, smooth,
often purplish, branched from all or most nodes, the branches
often fascicled. Leaves mosly cauline; sheaths somewhat loose,
striate, glabrous except at the upper margins, which are sometimes
delicately ciliate; ligules ciliate membrane; blades 7−20 cm long,
2−6 mm wide, flat, flaccid, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acute
or acuminate. Panicles 5–15(–23) cm long, open, embraced at base
by subtending leaf, oblong or ovate; primary branches ascending
or spreading. Spikelets 1.5–2 mm long, solitary, ovate, dorsally
compressed; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: Temperate
and tropical Africa, western Indian Ocean, and Asia.
138. Parahyparrhenia annua (Hack.) Clayton
FIGURE 147
Parahyparrhenia annua (Hack.) Clayton, Kew Bull. 20: 434.
1966 [1967].
FIGURE 146
Panicum walense Mez, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34(1): 146–147. 1904.
[Panicum humile Steud.]
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–160 cm long, erect; with a
few branches below. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous; auricles 2–5 mm long, erect; ligules 2–5 mm long, eciliate membrane;
NUMBER 108
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FIGURE 147. Parahyparrhenia annua. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from P. Adames
408 (US-2462148).
FIGURE 148. Paspalum scrobiculatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A and C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye
(1988). B drawn from Bogdan Collection, NARS, Kitale, Kenya.
blades 5–45 cm long, 1–6 mm wide, filiform with white midribs
on lower ⅓, bases slightly or markedly narrowed, spatheolate. Racemes 2–6 cm long, paired or sometimes single. Spikelets in pairs,
the basal sterile and the upper fertile. Fertile spikelets 5−11 mm
long; callus 1−4 mm long, cuneate, pilose, pungent; lemma apex
bidentate, awned; principal lemma awns 35–100 mm long from
a sinus, geniculate, column twisted. Distribution: tropical Africa.
Common names: barobia, parkatari; Indian crown grass, Indian
paspalum, kodo millet, wild paspalum.
139. Paspalum scrobiculatum L.
FIGURE 148
Paspalum scrobiculatum L., Mant. Pl. 1: 29. 1767.
Mat-forming, caespitose perennials. Culms 10–150 cm
long, erect, or geniculately ascending; with a few branches from
mid culm; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, lower nodes rooting or not. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths mostly shorter
than adjacent culm internodes, open, glabrous; ligules eciliate
membrane; blades 5–40 cm long, 0.3–1.5 cm wide, linear or
linear-lanceolate, flat, glabrous or soft hairy, whitish hyaline
midrib recessed above and protruding below on lower ⅓, base
simple, rounded, tapering to a filiform-attenuate apex. Racemes
2–15 cm long, 1–20, digitate or borne along a central axis,
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unilateral. Spikelets 1.4–3 mm long, solitary, obovate or orbicular, dorsally compressed, plano-convex, obtuse; lemma apex
obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa, western Indian
Ocean, temperate and tropical Asia, Australia, North America,
and South America.
140. Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud.
FIGURE 149
Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin. ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2,
1: 144. 1840. [Phragmites vallatorius (L.) Veldkamp]
141. Rhytachne rottboellioides Desv.
FIGURE 150
Rhytachne rottboellioides Desv., Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occid. 12. 1825.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 20–100 cm tall; branches
arising from the lower nodes; internodes glabrous; nodes dark;
butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Leaves mostly
basal; sheath glabrous, the lower ones purplish or white, slightly
compressed; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 5–25 cm long,
Solitary perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 2–10 m tall,
erect, reedlike; internodes glabrous; nodes dark. Leaves cauline;
sheaths loose; collar dark; ligules ciliate membrane; blades 30–80
cm long, 1.2–4 cm wide, deciduous, flat, scaberulous below, hardened, apex attenuate. Panicles 30–50 cm long, 10–20 cm wide,
open panicle, oblong. Spikelets 9–12 mm long, solitary, laterally
compressed; floret callus with hairs 4−8 mm long; bisexual lemmas 8.5−10 mm long, apex acuminate, awnless. Distribution:
tropical Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, and Australia.
FIGURE 149. Phragmites karka. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from William
Burger 1429 (US- 265188).
FIGURE 150. Rhytachne rottboellioides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
NUMBER 108
5–10 mm wide, tightly rolled, involute, filiform, margins smooth,
apex apiculate. Inflorescence composed of single raceme; racemes
2–20 cm long, smooth, terete. Sessile spikelets 2–5(–6) mm long,
oblong, or ovate, dorsally compressed; lower glumes 5−9-veined;
lemma apex acute. Distribution: tropical Africa, western Indian
Ocean, North America, and South America.
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99
nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths
glabrous; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 10–20 cm long,
1–2 mm wide, filiform, convolute, puberulous, apex acuminate.
Inflorescence composed of single raceme; racemes 5–12 cm long,
smooth, terete. Sessile spikelets 5 mm long, oblong, dorsally
compressed; lower glumes 6- or 7-veined; lemma apex acute,
awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa.
142. Rhytachne triaristata (Steud.) Stapf
143. Rottboellia afraurita Stapf
FIGURE 151
FIGURE 152
Rhytachne triaristata (Steud.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 85. 1917.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–80 cm tall, slender, erect;
branches arising from the lower nodes; internodes glabrous;
Rottboellia afraurita Stapf, Mém. Soc. Bot. France 55: 98. 1908.
[Coelorachis afraurita (Stapf) Stapf; Mnesithea afrautita
(Stapf) de Koning and Sosef]
Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 400 cm tall, robust,
erect. Leaves cauline; sheaths keeled, basal ones strongly laterally compressed and flabellate; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades
30–100 cm long or more and 0.4–1.2 cm wide, conduplicate,
apex acute. Inflorescences simple raceme embraced below by a
spatheole; racemes 2–7 cm long. Spikelets 3–4.5 mm long, in
pairs, ovate, dorsally compressed; lemma awnless. Distribution:
throughout tropical Africa.
144. Sacciolepis africana
C. E. Hubb. & Snowden
FIGURE 153
Sacciolepis africana C. E. Hubb. & Snowden, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1936(5): 294. 1936.
Common name: niepoto.
Caespitose perennials with short rhizomes. Culms 30–180
cm long, decumbent, spongy; branching from lower nodes; internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark, lower nodes rooting. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths loose, keeled, striate; collars dark; ligules eciliate membrane; blades 5–40 cm long, 0.3–1.5 cm wide,
glabrous, with conspicuous whitish midribs on lower ⅓, apex
attenuate. Panicles 4–30 cm long, spiciform, narrow. Spikelets
2.5–3.5 mm long, solitary, elliptic, dorsally compressed, gibbous,
obtuse to subacute; lemma apex acute, awnless. Distribution:
tropical and temperate Africa and western Indian Ocean.
145. Sacciolepis chevalieri Stapf
FIGURE 154
Sacciolepis chevalieri Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 754. 1920.
FIGURE 151. Rhytachne triaristata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from G. A. Mensah 536
(US-2209057).
Densely tufted perennials sometimes with short, oblique rhizomes. Culms 20–100 cm tall, firm, erect, very slender, soft or
spongy below; branching from lower nodes; internodes smooth,
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FIGURE 153. Sacciolepis africana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Ibrahim and
Kabuye (1988).
FIGURE 152. Rottboellia afraurita. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
long, solitary, ovate, laterally compressed, gibbous; lemma apex
obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa and
western Indian Ocean.
146. Sacciolepis micrococca Mez
FIGURE 155
glabrous, ribbed, semiterete; nodes glabrous; butt sheaths scarious glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous; ligules
ciliolate membrane; blades 5–20 cm long, 1–7 mm wide, convolute, strongly ribbed, papillose or not, margins smooth, inrolled,
bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–16 cm long, spiciform,
narrow, continuous or interrupted below. Spikelets 1.5–2.2 mm
Sacciolepis micrococca Mez, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 15:
122. 1918.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–70 cm tall, erect, wiry; internodes glabrous, striate; nodes dark. Leaves basal and cauline;
NUMBER 108
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FIGURE 155. Sacciolepis micrococca. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. A−C drawn from E. Milne-Redhead
& P. Taylor 9911 (US-2841889), M. McCallum Webster s.n.
(US-2464189).
FIGURE 154. Sacciolepis chevalieri. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988). B drawn from E. Milne-Redhead & P. Taylor
9559 (US-2841886).
147. Schizachyrium brevifolium (Sw.) Buse
FIGURE 156
Schizachyrium brevifolium (Sw.) Buse, Pl. Jungh. 359. 1854.
sheaths open, glabrous, ribbed; oral hairs bearded; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 4–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide, filiform,
conduplicate, glabrous, papillose on veins above, bases narrower
than sheath apex, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–15 cm long, spiciform, narrow. Spikelets 0.7–1 mm long, solitary, elliptic, slightly
laterally compressed; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution:
tropical and temperate Africa and western Indian Ocean.
Caespitose annuals, often reddish in color. Culms 5–60 cm
long; 1–2 mm in diameter, geniculate or prostrate, slender, weak;
branching near the base; internodes glabrous, striate. Leaves
basal and cauline; sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent internodes, keeled; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 1–6 cm long,
1–7 mm wide, linear or linear-lanceolate flat, apex obtuse. Inflorescence composed of a single raceme, terminal and axillary;
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FIGURE 156. Schizachyrium brevifolium. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from
Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
racemes 1–2.5 cm long, subtended by a linear spatheole. Spikelets
1–1.5 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemma
apex entire (when awnless), or lobed, bidentate, incised 0.9 of
lemma length, muticous (rarely) or awned; principal lemma
awns 7–12 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, column twisted,
glabrous. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa, western Indian Ocean, temperate and tropical Asia to Western Hemisphere.
148. Schizachyrium exile (Hochst.) Pilg.
FIGURE 157
Schizachyrium exile (Hochst.) Pilg., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 284. 1917.
Common name: red grass.
Loosely caespitose annuals, commonly reddish in color.
Culms 10–120 cm tall, erect; with a few branches from the mid
FIGURE 157. Schizachyrium exile. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B
drawn from S. Laegaard with T. Sobere 17872 (US-3595169).
culms; internodes glabrous, with occasional prop roots below;
roots fine, whitish. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much
shorter than the internodes, glabrous, lower leaves strongly
compressed, keeled toward apex; ligules ciliolate membrane;
blades 2–15 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, glabrous or hairy on lower
⅓, with inconspicuous midribs above and protruding below,
apex acute. Inflorescence composed of a single raceme, terminal
and axillary; racemes 3–6 cm long, subtended by a linear or lanceolate, reddish spatheole. Spikelets 1–2(–3) mm long, in pairs,
lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemma apex lobed, bidentate,
incised 0.75 of lemma length, awned; principal lemma awns
(7−)10–25 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, column twisted,
glabrous. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa, western
Indian Ocean, and tropical Asia.
NUMBER 108
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103
149. Schizachyrium gresicola Jacq.-Fél.
150. Schizachyrium nodulosum (Hack.) Stapf
FIGURE 158
FIGURE 159
Schizachyrium gresicola Jacq.-Fél., Rev. Int. Bot. Appl. Agric.
Trop. 33: 446. 1953.
Schizachyrium nodulosum (Hack.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 194.
1917.
Caespitose perennials, reddish in color; basal innovations
flabellate. Culms 20–60 cm long; 1–1.5 mm in diameter, erect;
internodes glabrous; nodes dark. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths compressed, outer margins hairy; ligules 1 mm long,
eciliate membrane; blades 10–15 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, filiform, convolute, apex acuminate. Inflorescences composed of
single raceme, terminal and axillary; racemes 1–3.5 cm long,
flexuous, subtended by a spatheole; spatheoles about 3 cm long,
linear; peduncles 3–6 cm long. Spikelets 3.5–4 mm long, in pairs,
dorsally compressed; lemma apex bidentate, incised 0.1–0.33 of
lemma length, awned; principal lemma awns 12–15 mm long
from a sinus, geniculate, column twisted, glabrous. Distribution:
tropical West Africa.
Caespitose annuals, reddish in color. Culms 15–45 cm long,
erect, slender, solitary or fascicled, usually branched from the
middle upward; internodes glabrous or pubescent below the
nodes; nodes bearded or not. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
somewhat loose, the lowest compressed and keeled, glabrous
or very sparingly pubescent; ligules eciliate membrane, truncate; blades 3–8 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, narrowly linear, flat
or folded, glabrous or sometimes with scattered long hairs near
the junction with the sheaths, midribs indistinct, eventually drying white or reddish, margins slightly scabrid, apex acuminate.
Inflorescence composed of single raceme, terminal and axillary;
FIGURE 158. Schizachyrium gresicola. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from
A. Pitot s.n. (K).
FIGURE 159. Schizachyrium nodulosum. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from G. Fotius 2226
(US-2841898).
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racemes 2.5–5 cm long, smooth, terete, subtended by a spatheole;
spatheoles 2.5–3 cm long, lanceolate, red. Spikelets 3 mm long,
in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemma apex bidentate,
incised 0.6–0.75 of lemma length, awned; principal lemma awns
10–12 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, column twisted, glabrous. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
151. Schizachyrium ruderale Clayton
FIGURE 160
Schizachyrium ruderale Clayton, Kew Bull. 19: 451. 1965.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 150–200 cm long, 3–4 mm in
diameter near base, erect, reddish in color; often prop-rooted
from lower nodes, the roots whitish. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths glabrous toward the base, hairy toward apex; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 10–25 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, flat to
partially folded, glabrous or pilose, sparsely hairy, hyaline midribs recessed above and protruding below, apex acute. Inflorescence composed of single raceme, terminal and axillary; racemes
5–7 cm long, subtended by a spatheole; spatheoles about 3 cm
long, linear, brown, or purple. Spikelets about 4.5 mm long, in
pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemma apex lobed, bidentate, incised 0.9 of lemma length, awned; principal lemma awns
14–20 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, column twisted. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
152. Schizachyrium rupestre (K. Schum.) Stapf
FIGURE 161
Schizachyrium rupestre (K.Schum.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 204.
1918.
FIGURE 160. Schizachyrium ruderale. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Poilecot
(1995).
FIGURE 161. Schizachyrium rupestre. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
NUMBER 108
Caespitose perennials. Culms 90–150 cm long, slender, erect;
internodes glabrous, reddish in color; roots fairly coarse and distinctively black. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths firm, the lower
compressed, keeled, dark brown, more or less hirsute, the upper
usually a few loose hairs upward, finely striate, margins hairy; ligules ciliolate membrane, scarious; blades 15–30 cm long, 1–5 mm
wide, folded or sometimes flat, keeled, glabrous except for a few
hairs near the base, slightly glaucous when young, turning brown
when old, slightly scaberulous above and on the margins, apex
acute. Inflorescence composed of a single raceme, terminal and
axillary; racemes 3–5 cm long, subtended by a linear spatheole.
Spikelets 3–6.5 mm long, appressed, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally
compressed. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
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105
glabrous or rarely sparsely pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline;
sheaths glabrous, basal ones compressed; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 6–30 cm long, 2–9 mm wide, apex acute. Inflorescence composed of single raceme, terminal and axillary; racemes
2–15(–20) cm long, subtended by a spatheole, exserted; spatheoles
4–7 cm long, linear, herbaceous. Spikelets 5–10 mm long, in pairs,
laterally compressed. Distribution: tropics, worldwide.
154. Schoenefeldia gracilis Kunth
FIGURE 163
Schoenefeldia gracilis Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 283. 1830.
Common names: burdi, furala, urga.
153. Schizachyrium sanguineum (Retz.) Alston
FIGURE 162
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate, or decumbent, weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths
Schizachyrium sanguineum (Retz.) Alston, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 6:
334. 1931.
Common names: crimson false bluestem, red autumn grass.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 70–300 cm high, reddishpurple, erect, slender; branching from lower nodes; butt sheaths
FIGURE 162. Schizachyrium sanguineum. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from
Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
FIGURE 163. Schoenefeldia gracilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A modified from Cope (2005); B, C drawn from
W. Burger 3525 (US-2594202).
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glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed,
collar white, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules
1–2 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades 1–10 cm long, 2–3 mm
wide, filiform, convolute with a distinct constriction midlength,
ascending, hairy on basal ⅓, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Racemes 6–15 cm long, 1–4, digitately inserted, curved,
unilateral; rachis flattened. Spikelets 3–5 mm long, laterally
compressed, cuneate; upper glume often mucronate; lemmas
1.5−2.5 mm long, 3-veined, awned, the awns 10–30(−40) mm
long, flexuous, bristly. Distribution: tropical Africa, Arabia to
Pakistan, and India.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–60 cm long, geniculately ascending, slender; branching from lower nodes; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligules fringe
of hairs; blades 5–30 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat, glaucous,
margins cartilaginous, bases narrower than sheath, apex longacuminate. Inflorescence a single raceme; racemes 3–15 cm long,
straight or arcuate. Spikelets 9–15 mm long, in pairs, laterally
compressed. Lemma apex bidentate, bifid; incised 0.25 of lemma
length, awned; principal lemma awns 40–70 mm long from a
sinus, geniculate, column twisted, ciliate. Distribution: tropical
and temperate Africa and Asia.
155. Sehima ischaemoides Forssk.
156. Setaria barbata (Lam.) Kunth
FIGURE 164
FIGURE 165
Sehima ischaemoides Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 178. 1775.
Common name: allomoze.
Setaria barbata (Lam.) Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 47. 1829.
Common names: bristly foxtail grass, corn grass, marvet.
Loosely caespitose annuals. Culms 10–150(–200) cm tall,
with a few branches below; internodes ribbed; lower nodes
FIGURE 164. Sehima ischaemoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Poilecot
(1999); B, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
FIGURE 165. Setaria barbata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Carvalho 4152 (US-3328392).
NUMBER 108
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107
somtines rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, slightly hairy at the apex, margins hairy; collars ciliate; ligules ringe of hairs; blades 5–30 cm
long, 0.5–2(−3) cm wide, broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate,
distinctively pleated fanwise from the base, dark green, hairy
above with white midribs on lower ½, apex acuminate. Panicles
3–25 cm long, open, elliptic primary branches with secondary
branches tightly appressed and contracted. Spikelets 2–3.2 mm
long, elliptic, dorsally compressed, subtended by an involucre of
bristles; bristles 1−15 mm long; lemma apex apiculate. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa, Asia, Australia, and South
America.
157. Setaria geminata (Forssk.) Veldkamp
FIGURE 166
Setaria geminata (Forssk.) Veldkamp, Blumea 39(1–2): 377.
1994. [Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf]
Common name: Egyptian panic grass.
Mat-forming perennials with elongated, spongy rhizomes.
Culms 10–150 cm high, spongy, prostrate; internodes glabrous;
nodes dark, lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous, scarious. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, keeled, margins
smooth; collars white; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 3–25 cm
long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or conduplicate, wiry, spreading, stiff,
ribbed, scabrous with midrib apparent lower ⅓, margins smooth,
bases cordate, apex acuminate, setaceous. Racemes 0.5–4 cm
long, borne along a central axis, appressed, unilateral subtended
by inflated leaf sheath, embraced at base by subtending leaves.
Spikelets 1.6–2.6 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed; lemmas
awnless. Distribution: Old World tropics, western Indian Ocean,
North America, and South America.
158. Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.
FIGURE 167
FIGURE 166. Setaria geminata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower
(left) glumes. A drawn from M. Hassib s.n. (CAI); B drawn from
A. Pappi 3209 (US-2686306); C drawn from Abd El-Ghani 4109
(CAI); D modified from Allen (2003).
Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult., Syst.Veg. 2: 891. 1817.
Common names: laki davangel, ulu ndenku; yellow foxtail.
Solitary annuals. Culms up to 130 cm tall, erect, geniculate, robust, ribbed; nodes dark, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins
membranous; collars dark; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliolate membrans or fringe of hairs; blades 2–30 cm long, 2–5(−10) mm
wide, linear-lanceolate, loosely twisted, spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 1–10(–20) cm
long, spiciform, terminal, ovate, gibbous. Spikelets 1.5–3.5 mm
long, pediceled, dorsally compressed, subtended by an involucre of 4−12 bristles; bristles 3−8 mm long, antrorsely scabrous;
lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical and warm temperate Old
World.
159. Setaria sphacelata var. anceps
(Stapf) Veldkamp
FIGURE 168
Setaria sphacelata var. anceps (Stapf) Veldkamp, Blumea 39(1–
2): 382. 1994. [Setaria sphacelata var. serícea (R. E. Massey
ex Stapf) Clayton]
Caespitose perennials with short or rarely elongated rhizomes. Culms 20–300 cm long, 3–6 mm in diameter, erect
or geniculate; a few branches from mid culm; internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark, glabrous; butt sheaths withering or
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FIGURE 167. Setaria pumila. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 753 (US-3268326); C modified from Rominger (2003).
persistent and investing base of culm with fibrous dead sheaths.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths rather firm, the lower and
those supporting branches soon loosened, laterally compressed, acutely keeled, glabrous or rarely loosely to densely
hairy and tuberculate, finely striate; oral hairs present, ligules
a fringe of hairs; blades 10–50 cm long, 0.2–1.7 cm wide,
flat or convolute, scabrous, bases slightly narrowed, apex
acuminate. Panicles 3–50 cm long, spiciform, narrow. Spikelets
1.5–12 mm long, subtended by an involucre of 6–15 bristles,
the bristles 1.5−12 mm long, antrorsely scaberulous; lemma
apex acute, awnless. Distribution: tropical and temperate
Africa, western Indian Ocean, Asia, Australia, and Western
Hemisphere.
FIGURE 168. Setaria sphacelata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Ibrahim and
Kabuye (1988).
160. Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv.
FIGURE 169
Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51. 1812.
Common names: nornaba; burr, burr bristle grass, foxtail grass,
rough bristle grass.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, robust, ribbed; nodes dark; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened,
NUMBER 108
FIGURE 169. Setaria verticillata. A. Basal culm. B. Habit. C. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. D. Spikelet. A modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye
(1988); B−D drawn from L. F. Ward s.n. (US-825057).
sparsely hairy, ribbed, margins hairy; ligules ciliolate membrane;
blades 3–30 cm long, 4–10(−15) mm wide, broadly linear, flat,
spreading, flaccid, scabrous, collar white and distinct, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 2–15 cm long, 0.5−1.5 cm
wide, spiciform, linear, continuous or interrupted. Spikelets
1.5–2.5 mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed, pedicelled, each
spikelet subtended by a solitary bristle, the bristles 4−7 mm long;
lemmas awnless. Habitat: a weed of cultivation. Distribution:
temperate and warm temperate regions Old World.
161. Sorghastrum stipoides (Kunth) Nash
FIGURE 170
Sorghastrum stipoides (Kunth) Nash, N. Amer. Fl. 17: 129. 1912.
Common name: needle Indiangrass.
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109
FIGURE 170. Sorghastrum stipoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from
Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from M. Reekmans 10218
(US-3595241).
Caespitose perennials with hard, creeping, short rhizomes.
Culms 90–200 cm tall, erect, usually unbranched; internodes
glabrous; nodes bearded. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous; auricles erect or absent; ligules 1.5–4 mm long, eciliate
membrane; leaf-blades 15–50 cm long, 0.3–0.7(–1.2) cm wide,
linear-lanceolate, flat or convolute, stiff, rigid and conspicuously narrowed toward the base, glabrous. Panicles 15–40 cm
long, open, linear-lanceolate; branches capillary. Spikelets
4–6(–6.5) mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed;
callus rounded, shortly bearded; lemma apex bilobed, incised
0.2 of lemma length, muticous or awned; principal lemma awns
(0−)4–13(−25) mm long from a sinus, straight, or geniculate,
column twisted, glabrous or hispidulous. Distribution: tropical
and temperate Africa and South America.
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162. Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf
FIGURE 171
Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 114. 1917.
Common names: Cameroon grass, common wild sorghum, Tunis
grass.
2–7 fertile spikelets. Fertile spikelets 4−9 mm long, lanceolate
to ovate, dorsally compressed, acute; lemma awnless or awned,
the awns 1−30 mm long. Pediceled spikelets staminate or sterile;
lemmas awnless. Distribution: Africa to India and Australia.
163. Sorghum bicolor* (L.) Moench
FIGURE 172
Solitary annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms up to
400 cm tall, erect, robust, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes
glabrous or pubescent, often lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed,
margins smooth; ligules 2–3 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades
5–70 cm long, 0.5–6 cm wide, linear, spreading, hairy on the
basal ⅓, margins scabrous, white midribs recessed above and
protruding below on lower ⅔, base cordate, apex attenuate. Panicles 10–60 cm long, open, linear, lanceolate or ovate; primary
branches (rames) not whorled; rames 0.8–2 cm long, bearing
FIGURE 171. Sorghum arundinaceum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from Ndegwa
502 (US-3066978), M. Myre (US-2151002).
Sorghum bicolor* (L.) Moench, Methodus 207. 1794.
Common names: abora, gauri, nion; broom millet, Sudan grass,
sweet sorghum.
Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms up to
250 cm tall, erect, robust, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous,
ribbed, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 2–3 mm
long, ciliate membrane; blades 30–70 cm long, 0.5–7 cm wide,
FIGURE 172. Sorghum bicolor. A. Leaf blade and inflorescence.
B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet pedicellate (left) and sessile
(right). A, B drawn from L. H. Dewey 161 (US-431586); C modified
from Barkworth (2003).
NUMBER 108
linear-lanceolate; spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, bases
cordate, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–50 cm long, 2–20 cm wide,
open or contracted, lanceolate or ovate or globose, equilateral,
or nodding, spreading; rames bearing few fertile spikelets. Fertile
spikelets 3–10 mm long, in pairs, oblong or ovate or obovate or
orbicular, dorsally compressed; pediceled spikelets staminate or
sterile; lemmas unawned or awned, awns 3–10(−30) mm long,
geniculate, column twisted, pubescent. Habitat: cultivated cereal
and weed. Distribution: tropical Old World.
164. Sporobolus festivus Hochst. ex A. Rich.
FIGURE 173
Sporobolus festivus Hochst. ex A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 398.
1850.
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Common names: kafini, kononi; bird’s broom, hare’s grass, red
dropseed.
Densely caespitose perennials. Culms 10–60 cm, 1–2 mm
wide high, erect or geniculate-ascending, slender; branching
from lower nodes; butt sheaths glabrous, persistent, becoming
fibrous with age. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, margins
glabrous or ciliate, ribbed; collar ciliate, not whitish; ligules a
fringe of hairs; blades 2–7 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, convolute,
sometimes flat, scabrous, apex attenuate. Panicles 3–22 cm
long, narrowly ovate, open, very delicate and diffuse. Spikelets
1–1.5 mm long, 1-flowered, greyish green or purplish; lemmas
apex acute; anthers 0.6−0.8 mm long, 3 in number. Distribution:
tropical and temperate Africa and Asia.
165. Sporobolus helvolus (Trin.)
T. Durand & Schinz
FIGURE 174
Sporobolus helvolus (Trin.) T. Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afr.
5: 820. 1894.
Common names: afer, shakatee; khev grass.
Tufted perennials with elongated rhizomes; stolons present
or absent. Culms 15–60 cm long, 1 mm in diameter, wiry; branching from lower nodes. Leaves basal and cauline; leaf sheaths
glabrous, ribbed; ligules fringe of hairs; leaf blades 2–15 cm
long, 2–4 mm wide, linear, flat, glaucous, sparsely hairy adaxially, base subcordate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences 4–12 cm
long, 5–20 mm wide, an open panicle, linear to narrowly lanceolate, usually distinctly branched. Spikelets 1.4–2 mm long,
1-flowered, lanceolate, greenish-brown; lemma apex acute; anthers 0.6−0.8 mm long, 3 in number. Distribution: tropical and
temperate Africa and Asia.
166. Sporobolus ioclados (Nees ex Trin.) Nees
FIGURE 175
Sporobolus ioclados (Nees ex Trin.) Nees, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill.
161. 1841.
Common names: bushveld dropseed, pan dropseed.
FIGURE 173. Sporobolus festivus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and
Kabuye (1988); B drawn from A. A. Bullock 2403 (US 2239047).
Caespitose perennials; stolons sometimes present. Culms
10–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate; basal innovations subterete or
flabellate; internodes glabrous, striped; nodes dark; butt sheaths
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; flattened, ribbed, glabrous,
margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules fringe of hairs;
blades 2–20 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or convolute, straight,
ascending, scabrous, margins cartilaginous, bases narrow, apex
acuminate. Panicles 3–20 cm long, open to somewhat contracted, pyramidal. Spikelets 1.5–3(−3.3) mm long, 1-flowered,
lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 1.5−3 mm long, awnless; anthers
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FIGURE 175. Sporobolus ioclados. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Inflorescence branch with four spikelets.
A, C drawn from Migahid & Sheikh 429-A (CAI); B, D drawn from
J. Ash (US-2837164).
FIGURE 174. Sporobolus helvolus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and
Kabuye (1988); B drawn from William Burger 2160 (US 2465166).
0.7−1 mm long, 3 in number. Distribution: tropical Africa, Arabia to India.
cauline; sheaths glabrous, slightly compressed; collars whitish;
ligules fringe of hairs; blades 2–14 cm long, 3–7 mm wide, hairy
on basal ⅓, margins ciliate toward the base. Panicles 3–12 cm
long, open, ovate; primary branches spreading, whorled at most
nodes. Spikelets 1–1.2 mm long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, subterete; lemma apex acute, awnless; anthers 0.3−0.6 mm long, 2.
Distribution: tropical Africa.
167. Sporobolus microprotus Stapf
168. Sporobolus pectinellus Mez
FIGURE 176
FIGURE 177
Sporobolus microprotus Stapf, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 58(8): 218.
1912.
Loosely caespitose annuals. Culms 10–50 cm high, erect, or
geniculately ascending; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; branching from lower nodes; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
Sporobolus pectinellus Mez, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17:
295. 1921.
Delicate, caespitose annuals. Culms 10–45 cm high, slender,
erect or geniculate; branches arising from lower nodes; butt sheaths
NUMBER 108
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glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous; ligules fringe of
minute hairs; collars whitish; blades 1–8 cm long, 1–3 mm wide,
flat or convolute, rather stiff, margins scabrid, apex attenuate.
Panicles 3–18 cm long, open, ovate-oblong; branches delicate and
diffuse; pedicels capillary. Spikelets 0.8–1.2(–2) mm long, 1-flowered, lanceolate; lemma apex acute; anthers 0.5−0.6 mm long, 3
in number. Distribution: tropical Africa.
169. Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv.
FIGURE 178
Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv., Fl. Oware 2: 36. 1816.
Common names: burdi, gansegui; cat’s tail dropseed, giant rats
grass, whorled dropseed.
FIGURE 176. Sporobolus microprotus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from S. Laegaard & Sobere Traore 17834 (US-3591416).
FIGURE 177. Sporobolus pectinellus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D Bogdan Collection,
NARS, Kitale, Kenya; B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
FIGURE 178. Sporobolus pyramidalis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from J. P. M. Brenan & P. J.
Greenway 7880 (US-2464594).
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Caespitose perennials. Culms 90–200 cm tall, 2–5 mm in
diameter at the base; branches arising from the lower nodes or
lacking; internodes and nodes pubescent; butt sheaths glabrous
or pubescent, scarious. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths keeled, glabrous, lower ones compressed tending to become bulbous at the
base; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 20–50 cm long, 0.3–1 cm
wide, linear or filiform, flat or convolute when dry, scabrid or
glabrous with distinct white midrib for ⅓ their length; margins
cartilaginous; apex tapering to a flexuous filiform tip. Panicles
20–45 cm long, open, pyramidal; primary branches ascending,
tightly contracted. Spikelets (1.4)1.7–2(2.3) mm long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, green to greyish or purplish; lemma apex acute;
anthers 0.6−1.1 mm long, 3 in number. Distribution: tropical
and temperate Africa, Asia, Australis, and South America.
Mat-forming perennials; stolons present. Culms 10–70 cm
tall, erect, wiry, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark,
lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 2–25 cm
long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or convolute, straight, ascending, hairy
on basal ⅓, margins pubescent, apex spiny pungent. Panicles
1.5–20 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide, spiciform, linear. Spikelets
1.4–2.2(–2.8) mm long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, subterete, appressed; lemmas 0.8−2.2 mm long, awnless; anthers 1−1.2 mm
long, 3 in number. Distribution: Africa to India.
171. Sporobolus stolzii Mez
FIGURE 180
170. Sporobolus spicatus (Vahl) Kunth
FIGURE 179
Sporobolus stolzii Mez, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17(19–
30): 297. 1921.
Sporobolus spicatus (Vahl) Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1:67. 1829.
Common names: beurgu; rat’s tail, salt grass.
FIGURE 179. Sporobolus spicatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B drawn
from P. Greenway 8766 (US-2464345).
FIGURE 180. Sporobolus stolzii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B
drawn from H. M. Richards 21377 (US-2537361).
NUMBER 108
Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–60 cm long, erect; internodes
glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths hairy; margins hairy,
ligules fringe of hairs; blades 1–6 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, lanceolate, pectinate-ciliate on the margins. Panicles 5–14 cm long,
narrowly elliptic; branches in whorls and hispidulous bearing
6–30 spikelets. Spikelets 0.9–1.6 mm long, 1-flowered, glabrous
or hispidulous; lemmas awnless; anthers 0.1−0.4 mm long, 3 in
number. Distribution: Africa.
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115
4-flowered, 2-awned; fertile lemmas 3−4 mm long, coriaceous,
ciliate on the keel, the cilia 1.5−4 mm long; principal lemma
awns subapical, straight, the awns 2.5–4 mm long. Distribution:
tropical Africa.
173. Stipagrostis acutiflora
(Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter
FIGURE 182
172. Stapfochloa lamproparia (Stapf) H. Scholz
FIGURE 181
Stapfochloa lamproparia (Stapf) H. Scholz, Willdenowia 34:
131. 2004. [Chloris lamproparia Stapf]
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–60 cm high, erect, ascending
or decumbent, with or without rooting at the lower nodes; a few
branches from the lower nodes; internodes glabrous; nodes dark,
lower nodes rooting or not. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
keeled, open, glabrous, ribbed with membranous margins; ligules
ciliolate membrane; blades 4–16(–20) cm long, 3–5 mm wide,
flat or folded, apex acuminate. Inflorescences of 2–4, paired or
closely digitate, silky, golden racemes, the racemes 4–11 cm long,
embraced by an inflated leaf sheath. Spikelets 2–2.5 mm long,
FIGURE 181. Stapfochloa lamproparia. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from Poilecot (1995).
Stipagrostis acutiflora (Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 133.
1963.
Caespitose perennials; stolons sometimes present. Culms
20–60 cm tall, erect, weak; internodes densely pubescent; nodes
dark; butts sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
flattened, glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1 mm long, fringe of hairs; blades 4–6 cm long, 1–2 mm
wide, filiform, convolute, straight or curved, stiff, scabrous,
FIGURE 182. Stipagrostis acutiflora. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A, C drawn from E. Canon s.n.
(US-152805), A. Amin s.n. (CAI); B drawn from L. Chevallier s.n.
(US-550638).
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margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–15 cm long, open,
lanceolate, sometimes included in the sheath below. Spikelets
9 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 5 mm long, 3-awned,
central awns 10–15 mm long, feathery, column slightly twisted.
Distribution: northern Africa and Arabia.
membranous; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 6–20 cm long, 1–2 mm
wide, filiform, convolute, straight, stiff, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–15 cm long, open. Spikelets
10–13 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3.5−4 mm long,
3-awned, central awns 35–55 mm long, feathery, column twisted.
Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa to Arabia and India.
174. Stipagrostis hirtigluma
(Steud. ex Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter
175. Stipagrostis uniplumis (Licht.) De Winter
FIGURE 183
FIGURE 184
Sipagrostis hirtigluma (Steud. ex Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter,
Kirkia 3: 134. 1963.
Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 30–70 cm
tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins
FIGURE 183. Stipagrostis hirtigluma. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from V. Täckholm,
M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, F. Shalaby, M. Zahran 369 (CAI); B, C drawn
from J. P. Mandaville 3369 (US-2653898).
Stipagrostis uniplumis (Licht.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 136. 1963.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–80 cm tall, erect; internodes
glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules
FIGURE 184. Stipagrostis uniplumis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from V Täckholm,
M. Kassas, H. Fawzi, M. Zahran 2061; B, C drawn from De Winter
& Hardy 8063 (US-3510523).
NUMBER 108
fringe of hairs; blades 5–15 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, filiform,
convolute, curly, scabrous, margins smooth, apex attenuate.
Panicles 10–15 cm long, open, terminal, partially included in the
sheath. Spikelets 9−10 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas
2−3.5 mm long, central awns 20–35 mm long, feathery, column
twisted. Distribution: temperate and tropical Africa and Asia.
176. Tetrapogon cenchriformis
(A. Rich.) Clayton
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117
present; collars dark colored; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades
3–12 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, filiform, convolute, spreading,
hairy on the basal ⅓, margins smooth, apex obtuse. Racemes
3–6 cm long, single or paired, ascending, unilateral, subtended
by an inflated leaf sheath. Spikelets 7–12 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed, surrounded by hairs; lemmas 4−6 mm long,
awned, the awns 2–8 mm long, straight. Distribution: Macronesia, Africa, and Arabia.
177. Themeda triandra Forssk.
FIGURE 185
FIGURE 186
Tetrapogon cenchriformis (A. Rich.) Clayton, Kew Bull. 16: 250.
1962.
Common name: tadjemait.
Themeda triandra Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 178. 1775.
Common names: angle grass, blue grass, kangaroo grass, red
grass.
Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms
30–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; nodes dark nodes;
butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed,
glabrous, keeled or flattened basally, margins scabrous; oral hairs
FIGURE 185. Tetrapogon cenchriformis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from B. Fruman
3459 (CAI); B−D drawn from G. Schweinfurth 582 (US-1259634).
FIGURE 186. Themeda triandra. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet cluster. A drawn from Ibrahim 2405 (CAI),
M. Kassas 547 (CAI); B, C drawn from Christie s.n. (US-2014264).
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Caespitose perennials. Culms 60–200 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; nodes bearded; butt sheaths glabrous, withering.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, margins scabrous; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliolate membrane; blades 10–30 cm
long, 1–4 mm wide linear, ascending, glabrous, reddish, inconspicuous midrib drying white, margins smooth, apex acute. Inflorescences 10−30 cm long, composed of terminal and axillary
racemes, subtended by a spatheole; spatheoles 1.5–3.5 cm long,
lanceolate, scarious, brown or red, sometimes tuberculate. Spikelets borne in threes; sessile spikelets 6–11 mm long, elliptic, subterete, surrounded by hairs; fertile florets 6−11 mm long, sessile,
awned; the awns 25–70 mm long, terminal, geniculate, bristly.
Distribution: tropical and subtropical Old World.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate,
glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, withering. Leaves basal and
cauline, sheaths longer than blades, glabrous, margins sparsely
hairy; oral hairs present; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 1–5 cm
long, 1–5 mm wide, lanceolate, flat, scabrous, margins ciliate,
bases cordate, apex acute. Inflorescences 2−7.5 cm long, composed of numerous racemes borne along a central axis, closely
spaced in a multilateral false spike, spreading, oblong; racemes
3–7 mm long. Spikelets 2–3 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 1.5−2.5 mm long, awnless. Distribution: Africa, southwestern Asia, China, and the Western Hemisphere.
178. Tragus berteronianus Schult.
FIGURE 188
FIGURE 187
Tragus racemosus (L.) All., Fl. Pedem. 2: 241. 1785.
Common names: stalked bristle grass, stalked burgrass, sweetheart grass.
Tragus berteronianus Schult., Mant. 2: 205.1824.
Common names: burgrass, carrot-seed grass, pricklegrass.
FIGURE 187. Tragus berteronianus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, M. Zahran, M. Samy, A. Girgis 560 (CAI); B drawn from A. S. Hitchcock
24840 (US-1447214); C modified from Hitchcock (1951).
179. Tragus racemosus (L.) All.
FIGURE 188. Tragus racemosus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. J. Rodin 3620 (US-1983592),
A. Pappi s.n. (US-1984347); C modified from Wipff (2003b).
NUMBER 108
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119
Caespitose annuals. Culms 5−20 cm tall, erect, geniculate,
glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, withering. Leaves basal and cauline; sheath longer than blade, glabrous, margins membranous;
oral hairs present; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 3–5 cm long,
2–5 mm wide, lanceolate, flat, scabrous, margins ciliate, apex
acute. Inflorescences 2−7.5 cm long, composed of numerous racemes borne along a central axis, closely spaced in a multilateral
false spike, spreading; racemes 0.4−0.9 cm long, cuneate bearing
2–4 fertile spikelets. Spikelets 4–5.5 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemmas 3.5−5 mm long, awnless. Distribution:
Europe, temperate Asia, and tropical northern Africa.
Caespitose perennials. Culms (20–)60–80(–85) cm long,
erect, or geniculately ascending, slender; a few branches from
the lower nodes; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths persistent and
investing base of culms with compacted dead sheaths or fibrous
dead sheaths. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous; ligules ciliate membrane; leaf blades 10–20(–25) cm long, 1–3 mm wide,
ascending, conduplicate or involute, stiff, glabrous, or pilose,
straight at the bases, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–15(–20) cm
long, open, oblong or ovate. Spikelets 1.2–1.7 mm long, solitary,
ovate or orbicular, dorsally compressed; lemma apex obtuse,
awnless. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
180. Trichanthecium brazzavillense
(Franch.) Zuloaga & Morrone
181. Trichanthecium parvifolium
(Lam.) Zuloaga and Morrone
FIGURE 189
FIGURE 190
Trichanthecium brazzavillense (Franch.) Zuloaga & Morrone, Syst.
Bot. Monogr. 94: 21. 2011. [Panicum brazzavillense Franch.]
Trichanthecium parvifolium (Lam.) Zuloaga and Morrone, Syst.
Bot. Monogr. 94: 59. 2011. [Panicum parvifolium Lam.]
Common name: small-flowered panic grass.
FIGURE 189. Trichanthecium brazzavillense. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C. Ligule, sheath, and blade. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn
from E. Milne-Redhead 4016 (US- 2640071) & R. Wingfield 4148
(US-2967808).
FIGURE 190. Trichanthecium parvifolium. A. Habit. B. Ligule,
sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from H. Humbert 5753 (US-150688.)
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Delicate prennials. Culms 8–50 cm long, prostrate, slender,
wiry; branching below; internodes glabrous; lower nodes rooting.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligule a ciliate membrane; blades 1.5–3 cm long, 2–7 mm wide, ascending, or reflexed
(at maturity), lanceolate to ovate, glaucous, venations with distinct
cross veins, glabrous or pilose, bases cordate, apex acute. Panicles
1–3 cm long, open, exserted, or embraced at base by subtending
leaf sheath, ovate; primary branches spreading or reflexed. Spikelets 1–2 mm long, solitary, oblong or ovate, dorsally compressed;
lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: Tropical Africa, southern and western Indian Ocean, and Western Hemisphere.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate;
internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths sparsely hairy, margins membranous; ligules
1–2 mm long, membranous, apex erose, serrate; blades 2–15 cm
long, 1–5 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, spreading, glabrous
to pilose, margins scabrous, apex acute. Inflorescences 5−25 cm
long with 10−40 racemes located along a central axis; racemes
1.5–4(−5) cm long. Spikelets 6.2–8 mm long, cuneate, laterally
compressed; lower glumes 4.6−7 mm long, 1-awned, the awns
1–2 mm long; lemmas 2.5−3.5 mm long, mucronate or awned, the
awns up to 2 mm long. Distribution: tropical Africa and Arabia.
182. Trichoneura mollis (Kunth) Ekman
183. Tripogonella minima (A. Rich.)
P. M. Peterson & Romasch.
FIGURE 191
FIGURE 192
Trichoneura mollis (Kunth) Ekman, Ark. Bot. 11(9): 10. 1912.
Tripogonella minima (A. Rich.) P. M. Peterson and Romasch.,
Taxon 65(6): 1278. 2016. [Tripogon minimus (A. Rich.)
Hochst. ex Steud.]
Caespitose perennials. Culms 5–28 cm long, erect, very slender wiry; butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm with fibrous dead sheaths; roots forming a fine dense mat. Leaves mostly
FIGURE 191. Trichoneura mollis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas,
H. Fawzy, F. Shalaby, M. Samy, M. Zahran 1526 (CAI); B, C drawn
from W. Schimper (US-1126174), Napper 550 (US-2379660).
FIGURE 192. Tripogonella minima. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. A–C drawn from S. Laegaard 15919
(US-3292337).
NUMBER 108
basal; sheaths glabrous, often purple-tinged; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 1–9 cm long, about 0.5 mm wide, filiform, pilose
above and on margins, involute or conduplicate, curved or straight,
apex acute. Single raceme 2–8 cm long, erect, straight, unilateral.
Spikelets 2.6–8 mm long, solitary, elliptic, laterally compressed;
lemma apex emarginate, mucronate or awned; principal lemma
mucro/awns 0.1–0.7(–1.2) mm long from a sinus. Distribution:
tropical and temperate Africa to western Indian Ocean.
184. Tristachya superba (De Not.)
Schweinf. & Asch.
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121
basal; sheaths tough, coarsely to finely striate, the lower overlapping, tomentose, upper glabrous rarely pubescent to villous; collar
dark; ligules dense fringe of hairs; blades 30–60 cm long, 0.5–
1.2 cm wide, linear-lanceolate, glaucous, flat, glabrous with prominent midribs below, slightly scabrid margins, sometimes involute.
Panicles 20–40 cm long, contracted, linear, branches glabrous or
villous. Spikelets 25–35 mm long, in threes, or in pairs (rarely),
lanceolate, laterally compressed; lemma apex bilobed with lanceolate lobes; incised 0.2–0.3 of lemma length, acute, awned; principal
lemma awns 40–120 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, subterete
below, column twisted, deciduous, abscissing from tip of lemma.
Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa.
FIGURE 193
185. Triticum aestivum L.*
Tristachya superba (De Not.) Schweinf. and Asch., Beitr. Fl. Aethiop. 302. 1867.
Common names: giant trident grass, hairy trident grass.
Caespitose perennials with short rhizomes. Culms 120–
240 cm long, erect, stout; a few branches arising from lower nodes;
internodes glabrous or loosely pilose; nodes dark; butt sheaths
thickened and forming bulbs, pubescent or woolly. Leaves mostly
FIGURE 193. Tristachya superba. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from B. D. Burtt
4606 (US-1539045).
FIGURE 194
Triticum aestivum L.*, Sp. Pl. 1: 85. 1753.
Common names: gemah, halkama; bread wheat, silver tip wheat,
volunteer wheat.
FIGURE 194. Triticum aestivum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−C modified from Hitchcock
(1951); D drawn from L. B. Smith s.n. (US-1963579).
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Caespitose annuals. Culms 60–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins
smooth; auricles clawlike; collars dark; ligules 1–3 mm long,
membranous, apex truncate; blades 10–60 cm long, 10–15 mm
wide, linear; flat; spreading, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous,
apex acute. Inflorescence a single bilateral spike, 5–18 cm long,
linear or oblong. Spikelets 10–15 mm long, 9–18 mm wide,
ovate, laterally compressed; glumes 6−12 mm long; lemmas
10−15 mm long, unawned or awned, the awns up to 15 cm long,
straight, bristly. Distribution: worldwide.
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous;
oral hairs bearded; ligules ciliolate membrane; blades 45–90 cm
long, 3–7 mm wide, linear, flat or convolute, glabrous with conspicuous broad white midrib, nerves prominent, margins scabrid, apex attenuate. Inflorescence with 2–4 paired or digitate
racemes; racemes 15–26 cm long, straight, smooth terete. Spikelets 7–10 mm long, oblong, dorsally compressed; lemma apex
obtuse, awnless. Distribution: tropical West Africa.
186. Urelytrum muricatum C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 196
FIGURE 195
Urochloa arrecta (Hack. ex T. Durand and Schinz) Morrone &
Zuloaga, Darwiniana 31(1–4): 69. 1992. [Brachiaria arrecta (Hack. Ex T. Durand & Schinz) Stent]
Common names: kussein; Joe Tanner’s grass, Tanner grass.
Urelytrum muricutum C. E. Hubb., Kew Bull. 4: 367. 1949.
187. Urochloa arrecta (Hack. ex
T. Durand & Schinz) Morrone and Zuloaga
Caespitose perennials. Culms 120–270 cm long; 3–5 mm
in diameter below, erect; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt
FIGURE 195. Urelytrum muricutum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from J. O. Ankerah GH 20293 (US-2382060).
FIGURE 196. Urochloa arrecta. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from T. Durowt &
Shurz s.n. (US-3412639).
NUMBER 108
Perennials. Culms 30–130 cm long, prostrate; internodes
smooth, angled, rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves basal and
cauline; sheaths pubescent with hairy or glabrous margins; ligules fringe of hairs; blades, 5–25 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, lanceolate, flat base, bases cordate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences
of 4–15 racemes borne along central axis; racemes 1–10 cm
long. Spikelets 3– 4 mm long, solitary, elliptic; lemma apex obtuse, muticous or mucronate, awnless. Distribution: tropical and
South Africa, Indian Ocean; introduced to tropical America.
188. Urochloa deflexa (Schumach.) H. Scholz
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123
Common names: paguiri, yagué yagué ba; false signal grass,
Guinea millet.
Loosely caespitose annuals. Culms 15–70 cm high, weak,
geniculately ascending. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths pubescent
with hairy margins; ligules fringe of hairs; blades 4–30 cm long,
0.3–2 cm wide, linear-lanceolate or broadly linear, sparsely hairy
with fine midribs recessed above and protruding below, margins scabrid, base cordate, apex acute-acuminate. Inflorescence
of 7–15 racemes; racemes 2–10 cm long. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm
long, in pairs, broadly elliptic; lemma apex acute or mucronate.
Distribution: throughout the tropics.
FIGURE 197
189. Urochloa jubata (Fig. & De Not.) Sosef
Urochloa deflexa (Schumach.) H. Scholz, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist.
Nat., B, Adansonia, sér. 4, 11(4): 443. 1989 [1990]. [Brachiaria deflexa (Schumach.) C. E. Hubb. ex Robyns]
FIGURE 198
Urochloa jubata (Fig. and De Not.) Sosef, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 563.
1919. [Brachiaria jubata (Fig. & De Not.) Stapf]
Common names: ban ngassan, handu nkasan.
Caespitose perennials. Culms 25–120 cm high; branched
from lower nodes; internodes glabrous, striate, lower nodes
rooting. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous to short
FIGURE 197. Urochloa deflexa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Spikelets with lower glume (left) and upper glume (right).
A modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, C drawn from
R. Tanner 2021 (US-2473041), A. Stolz 1818 (US-1163363).
FIGURE 198. Urochloa jubata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from Ibrahim
and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
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hairy, often with purple bases below; ligules a fringe of hairs;
blades 5–30 cm long, 0. 3–1.5 cm wide, midrib inconspicuous,
hyaline above and protruding below, hairy, margins slightly scabrid, bases rounded, often fringed with hairs, apex acute. Inflorescence composed of (3−)5–10(−15) racemes borne along
central axis; racemes 1–6 cm long. Spikelets 2.5–3.8 mm, solitary, elliptic; lemma apex acute. Distribution: tropical Africa to
western Indian Ocean.
190. Urochloa lata (Schumach.) C. E. Hubb.
FIGURE 199
Urochloa lata (Schumach.) C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew
1934: 112. 1934.
[Brachiaria lata (Schumach.) C. E. Hubb.]
Common names: akaru, akasof, ichiban.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–150 cm long, erect, or geniculately ascending, robust, with or without rooting from lower
nodes; branching from the mid culms; internodes glabrous, striate; nodes dark, pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths
folded, glabrous or hairy, ribbed, margin hairy; collars hirsute;
ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 6–12 cm long, 0.8–2.5 cm wide,
linear-lanceolate, scabrous or hirsute, with an inconspicuous
midrib recessed above and protruding below, tuberculate-ciliate,
sometimes undulated, bases broadly rounded or cordate, margins cartilaginous, apex acute. Inflorescence composed of 5–30
racemes borne along a central axis, closely spaced. Spikelets
2.5–3 mm long, in pairs, or clustered at each node, oblong, dorsally compressed, acute; lemmas apex obtuse, mucronate. Distribution: tropical and temperate Africa and Asia to India.
191. Urochloa mutica (Forsk.) T. Q. Nguyen
FIGURE 200
Urochloa mutica (Forsk.) T. Q. Nguyen, Novosti Sist. Vyssh.
Rast. 1966: 13. 1966.
FIGURE 199. Urochloa lata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from S. Laegaard & Sobere Traore s.n.
(US-3595073).
FIGURE 200. Urochloa mutica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade C. Inflorescence. D. Part of inflorescence. E. Spikelets with
upper (right) and lower (left) glumes. A drawn from A. Amer 15425
(CAI); B−D drawn from G. Schweinfurth s.n. (US-823874), C. Mez
(US-1649625); E modified from Wipff and Thompson (2003).
NUMBER 108
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125
[Brachiaria mutica (Forssk.) Stapf]
Common names: konya, kussein; California grass, Carib grass,
Dutch grass.
Clayton, Kew Bull. 20: 265. 1966. Lectotype: (designated
here): SENEGAL. Ad aquas Walo (Wale), 1827, F.R. Leprieur 21 (B 10 0367313 [image!]).
Stoloniferous perennials; sometimes stoloniferous. Culms
25–125 cm long, prostrate, sometimes rooting at the lower
nodes; branching from the lower nodes; butt sheaths scarious.
Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths much longer than blades, firm, terete, pubescent, margins glabrous or sparsely hairy; ligules fringe
of hairs; blades 10–30 cm long, 0.3–1 cm wide, linear-lanceolate,
scabrid or hirsute, margins scabrid or with tuberculate-ciliate
hairs, base simple, apex acute. Inflorescence of 5–20 racemes on
a central axis; racemes 2–10 cm long. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm long,
in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, acute; lemma apex obtuse,
muticous or mucronate, awnless. Distribution: throughout the
tropics.
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–60 cm long, geniculately ascending; culm internodes distally pubescent; nodes pubescent.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent; ligules a fringe
of hairs; blades 3–8 cm long, 2–7 mm wide, linear, flat, pubescent or densely hairy, apex acuminate. Inflorescences composed
of 4−8 racemes borne along a central axis; racemes 5–10 cm
long. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm long, solitary, elliptic, dorsally compressed, glabrous, acute; upper glumes 7-veined; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution: throughout tropical Africa.
193. Urochloa ramosa (L.) T. Q. Nguyen
FIGURE 202
192. Urochloa orthostachys (Mez)
Ibrahim & P. M. Peterson, comb. nov.
FIGURE 201
Urochloa orthostachys (Mez) Ibrahim & P. M. Peterson, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 108: 125. 2018.
Basionyn: Panicum orthostachys Mez, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 7: 66. 1917 ≡ Brachiaria orthostachys (Mez)
FIGURE 201. Urochloa orthostachys. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from S. Laegaard & Sobere Traore 17902 (US-3591409).
Urochloa ramosa (L.) T. Q. Nguyen, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast.
13. 1966. [Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf]
Common name: browntop millet.
Loosely caespitose annuals. Culms 10–70 cm long, erect
or decumbent; internodes glabrous or pubescent, striate; nodes
FIGURE 202. Urochloa ramosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Part of inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (right) and
lower (left) glumes. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988);
B, D drawn from A. P. G. Michelmore (US-2975886).
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S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
glabrous or pubescent; a few branches arising from the lower
nodes. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths much longer than leaf
blades, keeled, hairy; oral hairs present; ligules fringe of hairs;
blades 2–25 cm long, 0.4–1.5 cm wide, linear or lanceolate, scabrid or sparingly hairy, base cordate, apex acute. Inflorescence
of 3–15 acemes borne on a central axis; racemes 3–10 cm long.
Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm long, in pairs, elliptic to broadly elliptic;
lemma apex acute, awnless. Distribution: tropical and temperate
Africa, Arabia, Asia, and Western Hemisphere.
194. Urochloa stigmatisata (Mez)
Ibrahim & P. M. Peterson, comb. nov.
FIGURE 203
Urochloa stigmatisata (Mez) Ibrahim & P. M. Peterson, Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 108: 126. 2018.
Basionym: Panicum stigmatisatum Mez, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 34(1):
140. 1904 ≡ Brachiaria stigmatisata (Mez) Stapf, Fl. Trop.
Afr. 9: 520. 1919. Holotype: SUDAN. Ghasalquellengebiet, Land der Djur, grosse Seriba Ghattas, 26 Aug 1869,
G.A. Schweinfurth 2299 (B 10 0168675 [image!]; isotypes:
K000282144 [image!], W19160023469 [image!]).
Common names: lahrba, larba, niarukeho.
Solitary or caespitose, often mat-forming annuals with short
stolons. Culms 30–60 cm long, decumbent; rooting at lower nodes.
Leaves cauline; sheaths glabrous, basally compressed or keeled;
ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 2.5–18 cm long, 6–12 mm wide,
linear or lanceolate; flat, crenate; scabrous, margins cartilaginous,
base broadly rounded, apex acute. Inflorescence composed of 1–3
racemes borne along a central axis; racemes 2–8 cm long. Spikelets 4–5 mm long, solitary, oblong, dorsally compressed, glabrous;
upper glumes 9-veined; lemma apex obtuse, awnless. Distribution:
tropical west, west-central, and northeast Africa.
195. Urochloa trichopus (Hochst.) Stapf
FIGURE 204
Urochloa trichopus (Hochst.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 589. 1920.
Common names: saakat; gonya grass, roundseed urochloa.
FIGURE 203. Urochloa stigmatisata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. A, C drawn from Ibrahim and Kabuye
(1988); B drawn from Poilecot (1995).
FIGURE 204. Urochloa trichopus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Spikelet. A−C drawn from H. M. Richards 21324
(US-2537391).
NUMBER 108
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127
Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–170 cm long, geniculately
ascending or decumbent; branches arising from the mid culms;
internodes glabrous; nodes pubescent; butt sheaths glabrous.
Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous or pubescent, with tubercle-based hairs, ribbed, outer margins hairy; ligules fringe of
hairs; blades 5–30 cm long, 0.5–2 cm wide, linear or lanceolate,
glabrous or hispid with tubercle-based hairs, margins ciliate,
base broadly rounded or amplexicaul, apex acute. Inflorescence
with 3–20 unilateral racemes borne along a central axis; racemes
1–14 cm long, the spikelets 2-rowed. Spikelets 2.5–5.5 mm long,
solitary, ovate, strongly dorsally compressed, plano-convex, apex
acuminate; lemma apex obtuse, mucronate, principal lemma mucronate, the mucros 0.5–1 mm long. Distribution: Tropical and
temperate Africa, Asia, and North America.
Loosely caespitose or creeping annuals. Culms 10–50 cm long,
decumbent; branching from the base. Leaves cauline; sheaths with
fine hairs, sometimes glabrous, margins hairy; ligules fringe of hairs;
blades 1–7 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate,
finely pubescent, margins cartilaginous, apex acute. Inflorescence
of 5–10 racemes borne along a central axis; racemes 3–7 cm long.
Spikelets 2–2.7 mm long, paired, elliptic, dorsally compressed,
apex subacute or acute; lemma apex acute or apiculate, awnless.
Distribution: tropical Africa and temperate Asia to India.
196. Urochloa villosa (Lam.) T. Q. Nguyen
Urochloa xantholeuca (Hack. ex Schinz) H. Scholz, Bull. Mus.
Natl. Hist. Nat., B, Adansonia, sér. 411: 443. 1990. [Brachiaria xantholeuca (Hack. ex Schinz) Stapf]
Common name: naanama.
FIGURE 205
197. Urochloa xantholeuca (Hack. ex Schinz)
H. Scholz
FIGURE 206
Urochloa villosa (Lam.) T. Q. Nguyen, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast.
1966: 14. 1966. [Brachiaria villosa (Lam.) A. Camus]
Common name: hairy signal grass.
FIGURE 205. Urochloa villosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from M. D. W. Jefferys 30 (US-1037965).
FIGURE 206. Urochloa xantholeuca. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath,
and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A−D drawn from H. B.
Johnston 1053 (US-2975889).
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Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–60 cm long, erect, geniculately ascending or decumbent, slender; rooting from lower nodes;
branches arising from the base; internodes pubescent; nodes pubescent or bearded. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than
blades, ribbed, velvety-hairy; ligules dense fringe of hairs; blades
3–15 cm long, 0.4–1 cm wide, broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate, softly pubescent to tomentose or velvety, margins scabrous
and cartilaginous, bases broadly rounded, apex acute. Inflorescence composed of 2−8 racemes borne along a central axis; racemes 2–10 cm long. Spikelets 2.7–4 mm long, elliptic, dorsally
compressed, apex acute or cuspidate; lemma apex apiculate, awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa and temperate Asia.
Aquatic, spongy perennials with elongated rhizomes and fibrous roots. Culms up to 200 cm long, out of water, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, lower nodes rooting; butt
sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than
adjacent internodes, flattened, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, ciliolate membrane; blades 30–100 cm long,
5–20 mm wide, flat, spreading, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex
attenuate. Inflorescence with 1−12 digitately inserted racemes;
racemes 10–30 cm long. Spikelets 20–40 cm long, in pairs, ovate,
dorsally compressed; lower glumes with a long caudate apex;
lemmas awnless. Distribution: tropical Africa and India.
199. Zea mays* L.
198. Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff.
FIGURE 208
FIGURE 207
Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat. 3: Index 12.
1851.
Common names: temboro; floating grass, hippo grass.
FIGURE 207. Vossia cuspidata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and
blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Two spikelets. A, D drawn from Al Gadi
5 (CAI); B drawn from Juniper & Jefford 39 (US-2473200); C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
Zea mays L.*, Sp. Pl. 2: 971–972. 1753.
Common names: corn, maize.
Robust annuals with stilt roots; plants monoecious. Culms
2−3(−5) m tall, erect, 1−5 cm thick; internodes solid, ridged,
FIGURE 208. Zea mays. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.
C. Female raceme. D. Male raceme. A drawn from El Hadidi s.n.
(CAI); B drawn from A. S. Hitchcock s.n. (US-727090); C unknown
(US-727092); D drawn from A. Asima 421 (US-2208997).
NUMBER 108
semiterete, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves cauline;
sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, glabrous, ribbed, margins sparsely hairy; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex
erose or lacerate; blades 30−100 cm long, 2.5−10 cm wide, flat
drooping, hairy on basal ⅓, margins pubescent, bases cordate,
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apex acuminate. Female inflorescence axillary, subtended by one
or more elliptic herbaceous spatheoles (sheaths), a cylindrical
spike, 1−5(−10) cm thick with 2 or more rows of paired spikelets; male inflorescence terminal, paniculate; lemmas awnless.
Habitat: cultivated fields. Distribution: originally from Mexico.
Glossary of Terms
adaxial. The side of an organ toward the axis, e.g., upper surface of a leaf. Opposite:
abaxial.
adnate. Joined or united with a part or organ of a different kind, as stamens attached
to petals.
adventitious root. A root that arises from any plant part other than the primary root.
ample. Large, copious; usually referring to a panicle.
amplexicaul. Used to describe a leaf blade that has a base clasping the stem.
annual. A plant that completes its life cycle from seed to maturity in one year.
apex. The tip or end point of a structure. Opposite: base.
apical. Located at the apex.
apiculate. Ending abruptly in a short, sharp point.
appressed. Keeping close to or lying flat against another organ. Compare: adnate.
aquatic. Living in water.
aristate. With a bristle at the end; stiff awned or stiff bristled.
aristulate. Bearing or terminating in a small awn or sharp bristle.
aromatic. Fragrant due to essential oils in the plant tissues.
articulate. Jointed; provided with joints or nodes where separation may naturally take
place.
ascending. Rising upward and approaching erect; often used to describe branches that
form an angle from the culm of less than 90°.
asymmetrical. With both sides of an organ not equal.
attenuate. Gradually tapering to a slender base or tip, long pointed.
auricle. A small, earlike appendage of the collar.
auriculate. Having an auricle; with earlike structures.
awn. A slender, bristlelike appendage ending in an organ; borne on the glume or lemma
of grasses.
axil. The upper angle between a stem and its branch (or leaf).
axillary. Used in reference to structures attached in the axil.
axis. The main stem or culm, especially of an inflorescence.
barbed. With rigid points or short bristles pointing backward.
basal. At or toward the base. Opposite: apical.
bearded. With long or stiff hairs.
biennial. Taking two years of growth from seedling to maturity, usually producing only
vegetative growth in the first season and flowering in the second.
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bifid. Two clefts or two lobes at the tip; deeply divided into
two parts.
bilateral. Two-sided, usually referring to the placement of
spikelets along two sides of a branch.
bilobed. With two lobes at the tip of a lemma found in Tristachya.
blade. The final segment of grass leaf, above the sheath where
the leaf clasps the stem.
bloom. Whitish waxy or powdery coating on a surface; see
glaucous.
bract. A small modified leaf subtending pedicels or flowers; in
grasses, this includes the glumes, lemma, and palea.
branch. Lateral growth from the axis.
bristle. A fine, stiff, hairlike structure; these are found subtending the spikelets of Setaria.
bulbous. A swollen, thickened structure often made of fleshy
scales, usually at the base of a culm resembling a bulb.
bur. A spiny cluster of spikelets or fascicle that falls as a single
unit.
butt sheath. The thick, basal remnant parts of leaves.
caducous. Falling off soon after formation, not persistent.
caespitose. Growing in low, tight groups or clumped; forming
a tussock or tufted.
callus. A hard or firm structure; in grasses, the thick, hardened
portion just below the lemma on the rachilla.
capitate. Forming headlike clusters; aggregated into a very
dense or compact cluster.
cartilaginous. Hard and tough, gristly but elastic, like a cartilage.
caryopsis. A one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with the seed
coat adherent to the fruit wall; the grain of most grasses.
cataphyll. A scale leaf, usually on a rhizome at the base of the
plant.
caudate spikelet. Having a narrow, taillike appendage; used to
describe the long, linear, flattened apex of the lower glume
in Vossia.
caudices. Short, thickened, verticillate or branched stems that
are usually subterranean or at ground level; in grasses,
found at the base of the culm.
cauline. Borne on or arising along the stem, compared with
basal, where leaves are mainly near the base.
chartaceous. Of papery or tissuelike texture.
ciliate. Fringed with spreading stiff hairs on the margin.
ciliolate. Fringed with very small hairs, minutely ciliate.
clasping. Leaf base surrounding and touching the stem closely
on two sides; see amplexicaul.
clavate. Club shaped; the wider portion at the apex.
clumped. Growing in a tight group, or caespitose.
collar. A band of tissue situated at the junction of the blade and
sheath, often lighter in color than the rest of the leaf.
column. The lower twisted part of a geniculate awn, or the
portion below the awn branching point in Aristida.
compound. Referring to inflorescences made up of a number of
small constituent inflorescences (as in some Andropogonodae) or raceme or spike with some secondary branching.
compressed. Flattened, either laterally or dorsally.
concave. Hollowed out, curving inward. Opposite: convex.
conduplicate. Folded lengthwise down the middle; used when
referring to a leaf blade.
confluent. Structure merging in one, or fusing.
connate. Union or fusion of like parts or organs.
constricted. Abruptly narrowed, tightened or drawn together.
contracted. A narrow, dense inflorescence, usually with appressed branches.
convex. Having a more or less rounded surface.
convolute. Rolled longitudinally; leaf blades having one edge
rolled inside the other.
cordate. Shaped like a heart at the base of the leaf blades,
which are often deeply notched with rounded lobes.
coriaceous. Leathery in texture.
corymbose. A flat-topped, open inflorescence where the lower
branches are longer than the upper branches.
cosmopolitan. Found throughout the world.
crateriform. Saucer or cup shaped, used to describe gland
shape in Eragrostis.
crested. With an elevated and irregular-toothed ridge.
crown. The persistent basal portion of a tufted, herbaceous, perennial grass; the region from which the culm and roots grow.
crustaceous. Of hard, thin, and brittle texture.
culm. The grass stem that will eventually bare the spikelets;
also applies to sedges and rushes.
cuneate. Wedge shaped; with the acute angle at the attachment
point.
cupule. An involucre composed of bracts usually adherent at
the base.
cuspidate. Abruptly tipped with a sharp, rigid point, usually in
reference to the apex of a leaf blade.
decumbent. Stems or culms having the basal part flat along the
ground, then curving upward; reclining.
decurrent. A structure adnate to the stem with its margins extending down the stem or axis below the point of insertion;
usually used to describe the sheath.
deflexed. Bent or turned abruptly outward or downward, but
not to 180° (see reflexed).
dentate. Having a sharp-toothed margin, with teeth perpendicular to the margin. Compare: serrate.
depressed. More or less flattened from above.
dichotomous. With forked, paired branches or divisions of approximately equal size.
digitate. Arranged like the fingers of a hand, with the members
arising from the same point; same as palmate.
disarticulate. The separation of a structure usually at a node
or joint.
distant. Farther from the point of attachment. Opposite: proximal.
distichous. Two-ranked on the opposite sides of a stem or culm.
divaricate. Spreading wide apart and in different directions.
divergent. Spreading broadly, but less so than divaricate.
dorsal. The back; the face turned away from the culm axis (the
term abaxial is preferable). Opposite: ventral.
NUMBER 108
eglandular. Without glands.
ellipsoid. An elliptical three-dimensional shape, more or less
with identical ends.
elliptic. Shaped like an ellipse; the broadest point midway between the ends and the width about one-half the length.
emarginate. Having a shallow notch at the apex, usually in reference to a leaf blade.
entire. With an even margin without teeth.
ephemeral. A short-lived structure or organism.
erect. A plant that is quite upright, growing perpendicular to
the ground.
erose. Having an irregular-toothed margin.
excurrent. Extending beyond the margin or tip.
exserted. Protruding; sticking out; projecting beyond the edge.
Opposite: included.
extravaginal branching. Growth of the shoot initial when the
tip emerges or breaks through or ruptures the enveloping
sheath; this is usually distinguished by the occurrence of bladeless leaves found directly above the indistinct prophyllum. Opposite: intravaginal.
falcate. Sickle shaped; curved on distal end.
false spike. A very narrow panicle with spikelets borne in tight
clusters on much-reduced side branches as in some species
of Setaria and Cenchrus.
fascicle. A fairly tight cluster.
fascicles. Spikelike panicles of highly reduced branches forming a “bur” in Cenchrus and cluster of bristles in Setaria.
fasciculate. Leaves or branches in a cluster or tight bundle.
fastigiate branching. Branches or culms clustered or arising
from a single point in a broomlike appearance; see Hyparrhenia rufa.
feathery. Resembling a feather.
fibrous. Furnished with fibers; often found in basal leaf sheaths.
filiform. Threadlike, long, slender, and cylindrical.
fimbriate. Fringed with long, slender hairs coarser than ciliate.
flabellate. Fanlike, applied to flattened basal leaf sheaths.
flaccid. Soft or weak, limp, wilted. Opposite: firm or stiff.
flexuous. A zigzag or wavy form; bent alternately one way then
the other.
floret. A portion of a spikelet (grass inflorescence) that includes
the lemma, palea, and reproductive structures.
foliaceous. Leaflike.
fulvous. Tawny, orangelike, or dull yellowish brown to nearly
chestnut.
geniculate. Abruptly bent like a knee joint.
gibbous. Slightly pouched or swollen on one side.
glabrous. Without hairs or glands, but not necessarily smooth.
Opposite: hairy.
gland. A secreting structure on the surface, but often used in
the sense of a glandlike body; any protuberance of like nature that may not secrete.
glandular. Covered with glands.
glaucous. Covered with a grayish, whitish, or bluish waxy
coating that readily rubs off.
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globose. Spherical, nearly or quite globular.
globular. Spherical.
glomerate. In a compact cluster or group of clusters.
glossy. Refers to a surface that is lustrous or shinny.
glume. The bract, usually occurring in pairs, at the base of a
grass spikelet.
granular. Covered in little knobs or tubercles; less pronounced
than tuberculate.
habit. The general appearance of a plant.
habitat. The surroundings in which a plant grows.
hair. A cylindrical cell or a row of cells, often very fine and
transparent. Synonym: trichome.
head. An inflorescence of closely packed spikelets that is more
or less round.
herb. A nonwoody plant whose stem dies back to ground level
at the end of the growing season.
herbaceous. Not woody, but soft and green.
heterophyllous. Having leaf blades of different sizes and shapes.
hirsute. With straight, long, coarse, and stiff hairs.
hirtellous. Minutely hirsute.
hispid. Beset with stiff hairs that are often strong enough to
penetrate the skin.
hooded. Shaped like a hood or boat shaped; used to describe
the leaf blade apex.
hook. A curved or bent part at the apex of a leaf blade.
hyaline. Colorless, thin and translucent or transparent.
imbricate. Partly overlapping, like the tiles of a roof.
incurved. Curving inward or bent inward.
indument. Any hairy covering or pubescence.
indumentum. A cover of hairs, scales, or bristles.
indurated. Hardened at maturity.
inflexed. Turned sharply inward.
inflorescence. The flowing part of a plant, categorized by the
arrangements of flowers on the floral axis.
inflorescence unit. Term used to describe pairs of spikelets in
the supertribe Andropogonodae, usually consisting of one
sessile and one or two pedicellate spikelets.
innovation. A new vegetative shoot in a perennial grass.
inserted. Growing upon or attached to.
internode. The portion of the stem or culm between two nodes.
interrupted. When continuity is broken, particularly in dense
inflorescence whose form is not continuous.
intravaginal branching. Growth of the shoot initial within the
sheath that envelops the node; usually distinguished by the
absence of bladeless leaves and development of an obvious,
often palealike prophyllum. Opposite: extravaginal.
involute. Rolled from both margins toward the middle; the
upper surface within; especially common in leaf blades.
joint. Node of the culm or internode of an inflorescence.
keel. The adaxial ridge or fold of a compressed sheath, blade,
glume, lemma, or palea.
keeled. Ridged along the middle of a flat or convex surface.
key. An ordered series of alternatives used to facilitate the identification of organisms.
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knee. An abrupt bend in a stem or culm.
lacerate. Torn at the margin or irregularly lobed, as if torn.
lamina. The flat part of a leaf. Synonym: leaf blade.
lanate. With a very dense, wooly indumentum of hairs.
lanceolate. Lance shaped; narrow, tapering at both ends with
the broadest part below the middle, approximately three
times longer than wide.
lateral. Relating to the side of an organ or structure.
lax. Loose, distant, and not crowded together. Opposite:
congested.
leaf blade. The upper expanded part of the leaf beyond the leaf
sheath.
leaf sheath. The lower part of the leaf clasping the adjacent
part of the grass stem and terminating at a node below.
lemma. The lower (outer) of two bracts enclosing the grass
flower; together with palea constitutes a floret.
ligule. An appendage (membrane) or ring of hairs on the adaxial leaf surface at the junction of the sheath and blade.
limb. The distant untwisted part of a geniculate awn above the
column.
linear. Long and narrow with parallel margins, more than 10
times longer than wide; usually refers to the shape of the
leaf blade.
lobed. A flat organ split in two or more subdivisions.
lobule. A small lobe.
loose. Refers to the branching pattern of inflorescences that are
often open, but not dense or compact.
marginal. At or near the edge.
membranous. Thin, soft tissue, usually green or translucent;
similar to a thin membrane.
midrib. The central vascular trace or vein in the leaf blade.
mucronate. A short, small, abrupt point (mucro) or minute
awn less than 1 mm in length.
muricate. Rough, with short, hard points.
muticous. Blunt and without a mucro or awn.
nerve. A vein or vascular trace, often raised, usually running
longitudinally on blades, glumes, and lemmas.
node. Point on the stem or culm axis at which leaves or
branches originate; usually, these are swollen or knoblike.
notched. V-shaped cut from an entire edge.
oblique. Pertains to base of leaf blades where two sides of the
lamina are unequal.
oblong. Longer than broad, with the margins nearly parallel.
obovate. Reversed ovate, inverted ovate, the broadest part near
the apex and the narrow side near the base.
obovoid. Egg shaped, but with the broadest part near the apex
and the narrowest part near the base.
obtuse. With a blunt or rounded apex.
oral hairs or setae. Hairs on the margin of the distal end of leaf
sheath; hairs adjacent to the ligule auricular region.
orbicular. Disk shaped, flat with a circular outline.
ovate. The shape of a longitudinal section of an egg, the
broader end below the middle.
ovoid. Egg shaped.
palea. The inner or upper bract enclosing the pistil and stamens
of a grass.
pallid. Pale in color.
panicle. An inflorescence in which the main axis has several
divided or subdivided branches.
paniculate. Resembling a panicle.
papillose. Bearing minute nipplelike projections.
pectinate. Comblike, with very close narrow divisions or parts.
pedicel. The stalk of an individual flower in an inflorescence; in
grasses the stalk of a spikelet.
pedicellate. Borne on a pedicel.
peduncle. The stalk of an inflorescence or cluster of spikelets.
pedunculate. With a foot-stalk or peduncle.
perennial. A plant living for more than two years.
perfect. A floret (flower) with functional stamens and pistil.
persistent. Remaining attached, not falling off.
petiole. The stalk of a leaf blade.
pilose. Covered with loose, soft, long, straight hairs, not dense
but somewhat shaggy.
pit glands. Small glandular depressions common on some species of Eragrostis.
plane. Level, flat surface.
pleated. Folded; see plicate.
plicate. Folded into pleats lengthwise several times, like a fan.
plumose. Covered with long, spreading, soft hairs, with each
hair having side hairs along the main axis, like the plume
of a feather.
procumbent. Prostrate, trailing or lying flat, usually not rooting at nodes. Compare: stolon.
prophyllum. An initial, usually two-keeled, bladeless, adaxial,
protective bract surrounding an axillary vegetative or floral
bud; usually well developed in intravaginal branching shoots.
prostrate. Lying flat on the ground.
puberulent. Minutely pubescent, with very short hairs barely
visible to the eye.
pubescent. A generalized term for hairy; lacking definition of
the type of hairs, but sometimes referring to fine short hairs.
punctate. With transparent or colored dots, depressions, or pits.
pungent. Ending in a rigid, sharp point.
pyriform. Pear shaped; used to describe grains of some species
of Eragrostis.
raceme. A portion of an inflorescence with the spikelets borne
on pedicels directly on the axis or peduncle; racemes may be
solitary, digitate, or scattered.
racemose. Arranged like a raceme.
rachilla. The branching axis of the spikelet that bear florets.
rachis. The axis of an inflorescence that bares spikelets.
rame. A compound inflorescence in the supertribe Andropogonodae consisting of one to many units (branches) of
one sessile and one or two pedicellate spikelets.
rectangular-prismatic. Having six more or less flat surfaces,
such as a brick; used to describe the grain in Eragrostis.
reedlike. A semipersistent, aboveground stem that is not woody
and is generally unbranched except in the inflorescence; in
NUMBER 108
grasses this refers to stems that are large, usually more than
2 m tall.
reflexed. Abruptly curved or bent downward or backward to
about 180°; see deflexed.
retrorse. Marginal spines or barbs bent abruptly downward or
backward (away from the apex). Opposite: antrorse.
revolute. Rolled or curled toward the abaxial (lower) surface.
Opposite: involute.
rhizome. An underground stem, differing from a true root in
the presence of buds or scalelike leaves.
rib. A prominent vein, usually on a leaf.
ridged. Having raised veins.
rootstock. A short, vertical, subterranean stem, bearing roots.
rosette. A spreading and radiating basal cluster of leaves at
ground level.
rostrate. With a beak, narrowed into a slender tip or point.
rounded. Smoothly curved without sharp angles. Synonym:
obtuse.
rudimentary. Imperfectly or incompletely developed; vestigial
and usually nonfunctional.
rufous. Rusty or brownish red.
rugose. Covered with wrinkles or creased surface.
rugulose. Finely wrinkled; diminutive of rugose.
runner. A creeping or prostrate lateral shoot; a very slender or
filiform stolon.
sagittate. Shaped like an arrowhead; used to describe the base
of a leaf blade that has two acute lobes that point backward.
scaberulous. Minutely scabrous, slightly rough.
scabrid. Rough to touch, usually caused by the presence of
minute teeth or scattered short, stiff, broad-based hairs.
scabrous. Rough or harsh to touch, usually from short, stiff,
broad-based hairs.
scales. Thin, dry, flat, almost leaflike structure protecting the
rhizome or shoots.
scarious. Small, thin, dry, and shriveled, not green.
secund. One-sided; as when all branches or spikelets are borne
to the same side of the axis.
sensu lato. A Latin phrase meaning “in a broad sense” (abbreviated s.l.).
sensu stricto. A Latin phrase meaning “in a narrow sense” (abbreviated s.s.).
sericeous. Silky, with closely appressed, soft, straight hairs.
serrate. Sharp toothed and angled, like a saw edge, with the
teeth directed toward the apex.
serrulate. Serrate, with minute teeth.
sessile. Without stalk or pedicel.
seta. A bristle or stiff hair (pl. setae).
setaceous. Stiff and narrow, bristlelike.
setose. Bristly, beset with bristles.
sheath. A more or less tubular structure surrounding an organ
or part, as the lower part of a grass leaf that wraps around
the stem.
silky. A condition produced by a cover of soft, long, straight,
fine hairs.
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135
simple. Composed of not more than one anatomically or morphologically identical unit; not compound.
sinuous. Strongly wavy. Compare: undulate.
sinus. The notch between two lobes of a leaf or apex of a lemma.
slender. Slim, thin.
smooth. Referring to surfaces that are not rough, sometimes
loosely used for the absence of hairs.
solitary. Borne singly or alone.
spathe. A leafy bract (in grasses formed by the sheath) that supports the branches of a spatheate inflorescence.
spatheate. With spathes or spatheoles.
spatheolate. Having spatheoles.
spatheole. A leafy bract (spathe) enclosing part of an inflorescence. In grasses, the leafy bract is usually the sheath.
spatulate. Spoon or spatula shaped.
spicate. With spikes, spikelike, or disposed in a spike.
spiciform. Spikelike, in the form of a spike.
spike. An inflorescence or branch with sessile spikelets on an
axis; spikes may be solitary, digitate, or scattered.
spikelet. The unit of the inflorescence in grasses, consisting of
two glumes and one or more florets; a diminutive of spike.
spine. A hard, sharp-pointed structure, often long and narrow.
spinose. Spiny or spinelike.
spinulose. With small spine; diminutive of spinose.
spreading. Referring to branches of an inflorescence having an
outward direction at about right angles to the main axis.
stipe. A stalk to an organ that is part of the organ itself and not
a separate branch.
stilt-root. Adventitious roots from the lower nodes of the culms.
stolon. A modified stem above ground (runner) that creeps and
roots at the nodes and can give rise to new plants.
stoloniferous. Bearing stolons.
striate. With numerous longitudinal and parallel fine grooves,
ridges, or lines of color.
strigose. With appressed, stiff, rather short hairs.
sub-. A prefix to denote somewhat, slightly, or to a lesser degree; as in subacute, subdigitate, suberect, subglabrous, subsessile, subspicate, and subobtuse.
subdigitate. With inflorescence branches arising predominantly
at the one point (apex), but with one or a few branches
clearly arising below these.
subtend. To be below and yet close to; to extend under another
structure.
subulate. Awl shaped, very narrow and tapering to a fine tip
from a broader base.
tapering. Gradually narrowing in width toward one end, not
abrupt.
taxon. Any taxonomic unit into which living organisms are
classified, such as species, genus, tribe, subfamily, or family.
terete. Circular in cross section, lacking grooves or ridges.
terminal. At the end of a branch, stem, or culm axis.
ternate. Arranged in a cluster of three.
tiller. A leafy, nonflowering shoot initiating from the base of
the plant.
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tomentose. Densely covered with matted, soft wool-like hairs.
toothed. Having teethlike protrusions.
tough. Not disarticulating. Opposite: fragile.
truncate. Ending abruptly; cut squarely; with the apex flat as if
cut across at the top.
tubercle. A small, rounded protruding body; a little tuber.
tuberculate. Furnished with small projections or tubercles.
tufted. Clustered, or clumped. Synonym: caespitose.
turgid. Swollen, inflated.
tussock. A tough, dense tuft of basal leaves found in perennial
grasses (see caespitose).
undulate. Gently wavy. Compare: sinuous.
unilateral. One-sided, usually referring to the placement of
spikelets along one side of a branch.
utricle. A small bladderlike, one-seeded indehiscent fruit used
to describe the globose-ovoid, bony, shining utricle enclosing the one-flowered spikelet of Coix lacryma-jobi.
vein. A strand of vascular tissue (a vascular bundle) usually
found in leaves, glumes, lemmas, and paleae.
venation. The arrangement of the vascular bundles or veins in
a leaf.
vernal. Occurring in the spring.
verrucose. Having a wartlike or nodular surface.
verticillate. Arranged in whorls.
villous. Densely covered with long, weak, silky, often curly hairs.
viscid. Sticky or gluelike.
viscous. Glutinous, or very sticky.
wanting. Lacking.
wart. A hard or firm excrescence.
webbed. A tuft of cottonlike hairs found just below the lemma
in some species in the tribe Poeae.
whorl. Three or more structures arranged in a circular manner
around a common insertion point.
whorled. Having whorls.
winged. With a thin projection or border resembling a wing.
wiry. Like a wire, thin and cylindrical.
woolly. Hairy with dense, long, soft, entangled, curled hairs
not appressed to the surface. Synonym: lanate.
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Index of Common Names
(Mali)
The description number and scientific name are included in parentheses for reference.
abora (163. Sorghum bicolor), 110
afazo (136. Panicum turgidum), 95
afer (165. Sporobolus helvolus), 111
afezu (136. Panicum turgidum), 95
ainguiem (113. Leptothrium senegalense), 84
akaru (190. Urochloa lata), 124
akasof (190. Urochloa lata), 124
allomoze (16. Aristida adscensionis), 33
allomoze (155. Sehima ischaemoides), 106
aluala (78. Echinochloa stagnina), 65
amadzarne (25. Aristida sieberiana), 37
aseral (76. Echinochloa colona), 63
babunsi (40. Chloris pilosa), 45
bahure (126. Oryza longistaminata), 90
balbaldi (133. Panicum laetum), 94
bama subu (134. Panicum repens), 94
bambari ladde (103. Hackelochloa
granularis), 78
ban ngassan (189. Urochloa jubata), 123
barobia (139. Paspalum scrobiculatum), 97
beurgu (167. Sporobolus spicatus), 114
birbou (78. Echinochloa stagnina), 65
bo (128. Oxytenanthera abyssinica), 91
burdi (154. Schoenefeldia gracilis), 105
burdi (169. Sporobolus pyramidalis), 113
burugal (54. Dactyloctenium aegyptium), 53
cram-cram (32. Cenchrus biflorus), 41
dakhn (31. Cenchrus americanus), 41
debbo daneya (67. Digitaria gayana), 59
dedu ia (122. Oropetium aristatum), 88
dedu ia (123. Oropetium capense), 88
dedu na (122. Oropetium aristatum), 88
dedu na (123. Oropetium capense), 88
dedu ya (122. Oropetium aristatum), 88
dedu ya (123. Oropetium capense), 88
dianacare (128. Oxytenanthera abyssinica), 91
diivoonu (2. Acroceras amplectens), 25
dugu konsina (120. Microchloa indica), 87
dugun bee (16. Aristida adscensionis), 33
ebanau (33. Cenchrus ciliaris), 42
ebastan (55. Dichanthium annulatum), 54
fani (65. Digitaria exilis), 58
farka teli (77. Echinochloa pyramidalis), 64
fingui (77. Echinochloa pyramidalis), 64
firala nkasan (117. Loudetia togoensis), 86
firri (113. Leptothrium senegalense), 84
fitirde (89. Eragrostis cilianensis), 70
fitti fitti (91. Eragrostis gangetica), 71
fukobi (120. Microchloa indica), 87
furala (154. Schoenefeldia gracilis), 105
gague (67. Digitaria gayana), 59
gansegui (169. Sporobolus pyramidalis), 113
gauri (163. Sorghum bicolor), 110
gemah (185. Triticum aestivum), 121
ghonya (132. Panicum fluviicola), 93
gombi (109. Imperata cylindrica), 81
gombi sogo (117. Loudetia togoensis), 86
gondnema (80. Eleusine indica), 66
gonya (132. Panicum fluviicola), 93
guelori (10. Andropogon gayanus), 30
habinni (33. Cenchrus ciliaris), 42
halkama (185. Triticum aestivum), 121
handu nkasan (189. Urochloa jubata), 123
heskanit (37. Cenchrus prieurii), 44
holu (19. Aristida funiculata), 34
hori (3. Alloteropsis paniculata), 26
hudo belle (76. Echinochloa colona), 63
ichiban (190. Urochloa lata), 124
iufane (129. Panicum anabaptistum), 92
kafini (164. Sporobolus festivus), 111
kamere (81. Elionurus elegans), 67
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kasso (19. Aristida funiculata), 34
keenie ana (54. Dactyloctenium
aegyptium), 53
kelbi (22. Aristida mutabilis), 36
kiki (53. Cynodon dactylon), 52
kilaburu (81. Elionurus elegans), 67
kononi (164. Sporobolus festivus), 111
konya (191. Urochloa mutica), 125
kore (128. Oxytenanthera abyssinica), 91
kulumbi (120. Microchloa indica), 87
kumo ara pilu (124. Oryza barthii), 89
kussein (187. Urochloa arrecta), 122
kussein (191. Urochloa mutica), 125
lahrba (194. Urochloa stigmatisata), 126
laki davangel (158. Setaria pumila), 107
larba (194. Urochloa stigmatisata), 126
lemmad (52. Cymbopogon schoenanthus), 52
malo (127. Oryza sativa), 90
mbonsi (40. Chloris pilosa), 45
musa ladel (62. Digitaria debilis), 57
naanama (197. Urochloa xantholeuca), 127
narkata (62. Digitaria debilis), 57
ndiga (126. Oryza longistaminata), 90
neanso (108. Hyperthelia dissoluta), 80
ngoriri (103. Hackelochloa granularis), 78
nguon (10. Andropogon gayanus), 30
ngwose (87. Eragrostis atrovirens), 70
niari (2. Acroceras amplectens), 25
niarukeho (194. Urochloa stigmatisata), 126
niepoto (144. Sacciolepis africana), 99
nion (163. Sorghum bicolor), 110
nkasan (117. Loudetia togoensis), 86
nornaba (160. Setaria verticillata), 108
ntaso (108. Hyperthelia dissoluta), 80
okras (22. Aristida mutabilis), 36
okras (25. Aristida sieberiana), 37
okras (56. Dichanthium foveolatum), 54
paguire jaule (99. Eragrostis tremula), 75
paguiri (133. Panicum laetum), 94
paguiri (188. Urochloa deflexa), 123
paguiri mayo (129. Panicum
anabaptistum), 92
parkatari (139. Paspalum scrobiculatum), 97
saakat (195. Urochloa trichopus), 126
saana voonu ana (69. Digitaria longiflora), 60
sabi (81. Elionurus elegans), 67
samba gambi (89. Eragrostis cilianensis), 70
samu saana (48. Ctenium elegans), 49
shakatee (165. Sporobolus helvolus), 111
so pegou (80. Eleusine indica), 66
sorgobo (90. Eragrostis ciliaris), 71
soyo (109. Imperata cylindrica), 81
subu (3. Alloteropsis paniculata), 83
subu (90. Eragrostis ciliaris), 71
suebee (129. Panicum anabaptistum), 92
taberimt (52. Cymbopogon schoenanthus), 52
tadjemait (176. Tetrapogon cenchriformis),
117
tadjit (91. Eragrostis gangetica), 71
tau (65. Digitaria exilis), 58
teloloud (26. Aristida stipoides), 38
telolud (26. Aristida stipoides), 38
temboro (198. Vossia cuspidata), 128
tirichit (56. Dichanthium foveolatum), 54
tirikit (56. Dichanthium foveolatum), 54
ulu ndenku (158. Setaria pumila), 107
urga (154. Schoenefeldia gracilis), 105
uzak (32. Cenchrus biflorus), 41
wara (14. Andropogon tectorum), 32
wesedj (37. Cenchrus prieurii), 44
wolo gaman (94. Eragrostis pilosa), 73
wolo kaman (48. Ctenium elegans), 49
wolo kaman (49. Ctenium newtonii), 50
wolo kaman (94. Eragrostis pilosa), 73
wolo kaman (99. Eragrostis tremula), 75
yagué yagué ba (188. Urochloa deflexa), 123
zozobu (53. Cynodon dactylon), 52
Index of Common Names
(English)
The description number and scientific name are included in parentheses for reference.
African rice (126. Oryza longistaminata), 90
angle grass (177. Themeda triandra), 117
Angleton grass (55. Dichanthium
annulatum), 54
annual bristle grass (16. Aristida
adscensionis), 33
antelope grass (77. Echinochloa
pyramidalis), 64
ants millet (101. Eriochloa fatmensis), 77
Asian rice (127. Oryza sativa), 90
Bahama grass (53. Cynodon dactylon), 52
bamboo grass (61. Digitaria ciliaris), 56
basket grass (121. Oplismenus hirtellus), 87
basket grass (136. Panicum turgidum), 95
Batavian quick grass (104. Hemarthria
altissima), 79
Bermuda grass (53. Cynodon dactylon), 52
besem grass (116. Loudetia simplex), 85
biloela buffel grass (33. Cenchrus ciliaris), 42
Bindura bamboo (128. Oxytenanthera
abyssinica), 91
bird’s broom (164. Sporobolus festivus), 111
black fonio (65. Digitaria exilis), 58
black-seed crab grass (69. Digitaria
ternata), 61
black-seed finger grass (69. Digitaria
ternata), 61
blue buffalo grass (33. Cenchrus ciliaris), 42
blue grass (177. Themeda triandra), 117
blue panic (130. Panicum antidotale), 92
blue panicum (130. Panicum antidotale), 92
bottle brush grass (15. Anthephora
pubescens), 32
bread wheat (185. Triticum aestivum), 121
bristly foxtail grass (156. Setaria barbata), 106
broom millet (163. Sorghum bicolor), 110
broomstick grass (16. Aristida
adscensionis), 33
browntop millet (193. Urochloa ramosa), 125
buchu grass (51. Cymbopogon caesius), 51
buffalo grass (54. Dactyloctenium
aegyptium), 53
bug’s egg grass (98. Eragrostis tenella), 75
burgrass (32. Cenchrus biflorus), 41
burgrass (178. Tragus berteronianus), 118
burgugrass (78. Echinochloa stagnina), 65
burr (160. Setaria verticillata), 108
burr bristle grass (160. Setaria verticillata),
108
bushveld dropseed (166. Sporobolus
ioclados), 111
bushy bluestem grass (12. Andropogon
perligulatus), 31
California grass (191. Urochloa mutica), 125
camel grass (52. Cymbopogon
schoenanthus), 52
Cameroon grass (162. Sorghum
arundinaceum), 110
Carib grass (191. Urochloa mutica), 125
carrot-seed grass (178. Tragus berteronianus),
118
cat’s tail dropseed (169. Sporobolus
pyramidalis), 113
cat’s tail grass (15. Anthephora pubescens), 32
cattail millet (31. Cenchrus americanus), 41
cogon grass (109. Imperata cylindrica), 81
common bamboo (30. Bambusa vulgaris), 40
common wild sorghum (162. Sorghum
arundinaceum), 110
corn (199. Zea mays), 128
corn bead (47. Coix lacryma-jobi), 49
corn grass (156. Setaria barbata), 106
couch panicum (134. Panicum repens), 94
crimson false bluestem (153. Schizachyrium
sanguineum), 105
Delhi grass (55. Dichanthium annulatum), 54
desert grass (136. Panicum turgidum), 95
142
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Dominican lovegrass (96. Eragrostis
prolifera), 74
Dutch grass (191. Urochloa mutica), 125
dwarf grass (123. Oropetium capense), 88
Egyptian grass (54. Dactyloctenium
aegyptium), 53
Egyptian panic grass (157. Setaria geminata),
107
erapo grass (115. Loudetia phragmitoides), 85
false couch finger grass (69. Digitaria
longiflora), 60
false signal grass (188. Urochloa deflexa), 123
feather finger grass (42. Chloris virgata), 46
feather lovegrass (98. Eragrostis tenella), 75
finger comb grass (54. Dactyloctenium
aegyptium), 53
finger grass (62. Digitaria debilis), 57
floating grass (198. Vossia cuspidata), 128
foldedleaf grass (57. Diectomis fastigiata), 54
fonio of the birds (133. Panicum laetum), 94
fox brush (20. Aristida hordeacea), 34
foxtail grass (160. Setaria verticillata), 108
giant panic grass (130. Panicum
antidotale), 92
giant rats grass (169. Sporobolus
pyramidalis), 113
giant trident grass (184. Tristachya superba),
121
gingergrass (52. Cymbopogon
schoenanthus), 52
goat’s beard (40. Chloris pilosa), 45
gonya grass (195. Urochloa trichopus), 126
goosegrass (1. Acrachne racemosa), 25
gophertail lovegrass (90. Eragrostis
ciliaris), 71
gray lovegrass (89. Eragrostis cilianensis), 70
Guinea millet (188. Urochloa deflexa), 123
Indian paspalum (139. Paspalum
scrobiculatum), 97
Jaieo millet (2. Acroceras amplectens), 25
Japanese lovegrass (92. Eragrostis
japonica), 72
jaragua grass (106. Hyparrhenia rufa), 80
Job’s tears (47. Coix lacryma-jobi), 49
Joe Tanner’s grass (187. Urochloa arrecta),
122
jungle rice grass (76. Echinochloa colona), 63
kachi grass (51. Cymbopogon caesius), 51
Kalahari water grass (76. Echinochloa
colona), 63
kangaroo grass (177. Themeda triandra), 117
khev grass (165. Sporobolus helvolus), 111
kodo millet (139. Paspalum
scrobiculatum), 97
lalang grass (109. Imperata cylindrica), 81
large-seeded three-awn (24. Aristida
rhiniochloa), 37
lemon grass (52. Cymbopogon
schoenanthus), 52
Limpopo grass (77. Echinochloa
pyramidalis), 64
lizard-tail grass (103. Hackelochloa
granularis), 78
maize (199. Zea mays), 128
Mandinka rice (124. Oryza barthii), 89
marvet (156. Setaria barbata), 106
mock bluestem (102. Euclasta
condylotricha), 78
naked crab grass (70. Digitaria nuda), 61
needle Indiangrass (161. Sorghastrum
stipoides), 109
oats (29. Avena sativa L. subsp. sativa), 40
hairy crab grass (70. Digitaria nuda), 61
hairy signal grass (196. Urochloa villosa), 127
hairy trident grass (184. Tristachya superba),
121
hare’s grass (164. Sporobolus festivus), 111
hare’s maze (103. Hackelochloa
granularis), 78
hippo grass (78. Echinochloa stagnina), 65
hippo grass (198. Vossia cuspidata), 128
Holy Venda bamboo (128. Oxytenanthera
abyssinica), 91
hook grass (113. Leptothrium senegalense), 84
horse grass (14. Andropogon tectorum), 32
hungry millet (65. Digitaria exilis), 58
Hunyani grass (39. Chloris gayana), 45
inchi grass (51. Cymbopogon caesius), 51
India sandbur (32. Cenchrus biflorus), 41
Indian crab grass (69. Digitaria longiflora), 60
Indian crown grass (139. Paspalum
scrobiculatum), 97
Indian goosegrass (80. Eleusine indica), 66
Indian lovegrass (94. Eragrostis pilosa), 73
paddle grass (110. Ischaemum
polystachyum), 82
paddy (127. Oryza sativa), 90
pan dropseed (166. Sporobolus ioclados), 111
pearl barley (47. Coix lacryma-jobi), 49
pearl millet (31. Cenchrus americanus), 41
pond lovegrass (92. Eragrostis japonica), 72
pricklegrass (178. Tragus berteronianus), 118
rat’s tail (170. Sporobolus spicatus), 114
red autumn grass (153. Schizachyrium
sanguineum), 105
red dropseed (164. Sporobolus festivus), 111
red grass (148. Schizachyrium exile), 102
red grass (177. Themeda triandra), 117
red rice (126. Oryza longistaminata), 90
red swamp grass (104. Hemarthria
altissima), 79
reed grass (28. Arundinella nepalensis), 39
Rhodes grass (39. Chloris gayana), 45
Rhodesian blue grass (10. Andropogon
gayanus), 30
ribbon grass (121. Oplismenus hirtellus), 87
rice grass (112. Leersia hexandra), 83
river grass (28. Arundinella nepalensis), 39
rough bristle grass (160. Setaria verticillata),
108
rough lovegrass (86. Eragrostis aspera), 69
roundseed urochloa (195. Urochloa
trichopus), 126
russet grass (116. Loudetia simplex), 85
Sahara millet (136. Panicum turgidum), 95
salt grass (170. Sporobolus spicatus), 114
Santa Barbara grass (55. Dichanthium
annulatum), 54
savanna bamboo (128. Oxytenanthera
abyssinica), 91
Scotch grass (53. Cynodon dactylon), 52
sewan grass (111. Lasiurus scindicus), 82
silver tip wheat (185. Triticum aestivum), 121
slender meadow grass (94. Eragrostis
pilosa), 73
slim-flower lovegrass (91. Eragrostis
gangetica), 71
small-flowered panic grass (181. Trichanthecium parvifolium), 119
snake grass (104. Hemarthria altissima), 79
southern cut grass (112. Leersia hexandra), 83
spike grass (83. Elytrophorus spicatus), 68
stalked bristle grass (179. Tragus racemosus),
118
stalked burgrass (179. Tragus racemosus),
118
stink grass (89. Eragrostis cilianensis), 70
striped bamboo (30. Bambusa vulgaris), 40
Sudan grass (163. Sorghum bicolor), 110
summer grass (61. Digitaria ciliaris), 56
sweet sorghum (163. Sorghum bicolor), 110
sweetheart grass (179. Tragus racemosus),
118
tambuki grass (10. Andropogon gayanus), 30
Tanner grass (187. Urochloa arrecta), 122
Thalia lovegrass (87. Eragrostis atrovirens), 70
thatchgrass (4. Anadelphia afzeliana), 26
thatchgrass (5. Anadelphia leptocoma), 27
thatching grass (106. Hyparrhenia rufa), 80
torpedo grass (134. Panicum repens), 94
tropical cup grass (101. Eriochloa
fatmensis), 77
Tunis grass (162. Sorghum arundinaceum),
110
Victoria grass (134. Panicum repens), 94
volunteer wheat (185. Triticum aestivum), 121
white acha (65. Digitaria exilis), 58
white grass (22. Aristida mutabilis), 36
white grass (42. Chloris virgata), 46
white grass (112. Leersia hexandra), 83
whorled dropseed (169. Sporobolus
pyramidalis), 113
wild African finger millet (79. Eleusine
africana), 65
wild crab grass (61. Digitaria ciliaris), 56
NUMBER 108
wild findi (70. Digitaria nuda), 61
wild fonio (133. Panicum laetum), 94
wild hungry rice (133. Panicum laetum), 94
wild paspalum (139. Paspalum
scrobiculatum), 97
wild rice (124. Oryza barthii), 89
windmill grass (42. Chloris virgata), 46
wine bamboo (128. Oxytenanthera
abyssinica), 91
woods grass (121. Oplismenus hirtellus), 87
wool grass (15. Anthephora pubescens), 32
woolly lovegrass (90. Eragrostis ciliaris), 71
•
yardgrass (80. Eleusine indica), 66
yellow foxtail (158. Setaria pumila), 107
yellow hard grass (108. Hyperthelia
dissoluta), 80
yellow thatching grass (108. Hyperthelia
dissoluta), 80
143
Index of Scientific Names
Names without a caret (^) are accepted; those with a caret are synonyms. Page numbers in bold
italics denote account description.
Acrachne racemosa, 15, 25
Acroceras amplectens, 16, 25, 26
Alloteropsis paniculata, 15, 26
Anadelphia afzeliana, 20, 26, 27
leptocoma, 23, 27
Andropogon africanus, 16, 28
canaliculatus, 19, 28
chevalieri, 15, 29
fastigiatus^, 54
festuciformis, 22, 29, 30
gayanus, 16, 30
ivorensis, 20, 30, 31
perligulatus, 15, 31
pseudapricus, 15, 31, 32
tectorum, 16, 32
Anthephora pubescens, 15, 32, 33
Aristida adscensionis, 19, 22, 33
cumingiana var. uniseta, 20, 23, 33, 34
diminuta, 20, 21, 33, 34
funiculata, 17, 34, 35
hordeacea, 18, 20, 22, 34, 35
kunthiana, 19, 35, 36
mutabilis, 16 36
recta, 17, 36, 37
rhiniochloa, 18, 37
sieberiana, 14, 37, 38
stipoides, 19, 38
Arthraxon lancifolius, 14, 38, 39
Arundinella nepalensis, 16, 39, 40
Avena sativa, 19, 40
Bambusa abyssinica^, 91
vulgaris, 14, 40, 41
Brachiaria arrecta^, 122
deflexa^, 123
jubata^, 123
lata^, 124
mutica^, 125
orthostachys^, 125
ramosa^, 125
stigmatisata^, 126
villosa^, 127
xantholeuca^, 127
Brachyachne obtusiflora^, 86
Cenchrus americanus, 19, 41
biflorus, 7, 16, 19, 41, 42
ciliaris, 17, 42
hordeoides, 23, 42, 43
pedicellatus, 23, 42, 43
polystachios subsp. atrichus, 23, 43, 44
prieurii, 21, 44,
spicatus^, 41
violaceus, 21, 22, 44, 45
Chloris gayana, 15, 45
lamproparia^, 115
pilosa, 19, 20, 22, 45, 46
prieurii, 22, 46
virgata, 18, 46, 47
Chrysochloa hindsii, 15, 47
Chrysopogon fulvibarbis, 18, 47, 48
nigritanus, 18, 48
Coelachyrum brevifolium, 22, 48, 49
Coelorachis afraurita^, 99
Coix lacryma-jobi, 16, 49, 136
Ctenium elegans, 20, 49, 50
newtonii, 17, 50
villosum, 20, 50, 51
Cymbopogon caesius, 14, 16, 20, 21, 51
giganteus^, 51
schoenanthus, 20, 51, 52
Cynodon dactylon, 14, 52, 53
Dactyloctenium aegyptium, 14, 53
Dichanthium annulatum, 15, 18, 53, 54
condylotrichum^, 78
foveolatum, 17, 54
Diectomis fastigiata, 16, 54, 55
146
•
S M I T H S O N I A N C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O B O TA N Y
Digitaria acuminatissima, 19, 55
argillacea^, 59
aristulata, 15, 55, 56
barbinodis, 18, 56
ciliaris, 22, 56, 57
debilis, 21, 57
delicata, 15, 57, 58
delicatula, 18, 58
exilis, 22, 58, 59
fragilis, 18, 59
gayana, 22, 59, 60
leptorachis, 17, 60
longiflora, 14, 60, 61
nuda, 15, 61
ternata, 22, 61, 62
Diheteropogon hagerupii, 16, 61, 62
Dilophotriche tristachyoides, 21, 62
Dinebra coerulescens, 19, 62, 63
Echinochloa callopus, 21, 63
colona, 20, 63, 64
pyramidalis, 14, 64, 65
stagnina, 18, 65
Eleusine africana, 18, 65, 66
indica, 16, 21, 66, 67
Elionurus elegans, 18, 67
Elymandra androphila, 19, 20, 67, 68
Elytrophorus spicatus, 22, 68
Enneapogon persicus, 17, 68, 69
Enteropogon prieurii^, 46
Eragrostis aegyptiaca, 19, 69
amabilis^, 75
aspera, 20, 69, 70
atrovirens, 19, 20, 70
barteri, 14, 70, 71
cilianensis, 19, 70, 71
ciliaris, 19, 71 ,72
gangetica, 19, 71, 72
japonica, 21, 72, 73
lingulata, 23, 72, 73
pilosa, 19, 73, 74
plurigluma, 22, 73, 74
prolifera, 20, 74, 75
squamata, 22, 74, 75
tenella, 19, 75, 76
tremula, 20, 75, 76
turgida, 22, 76, 77
Eriochloa fatmensis, 21, 77
Euclasta condylotricha, 19, 78
Hackelochloa granularis, 15, 78, 79
Hemarthria altissima, 15, 79
Hyparrhenia cyanescens, 14, 16, 79, 80
rufa, 17, 80
subplumosa, 19, 80, 81
Hyperthelia dissoluta, 15, 21, 80, 81
Imperata cylindrica, 17, 81, 82
Ischaemum polystachyum, 17, 82
Lasiurus scindicus, 17, 82, 83
Leersia hexandra, 17, 83, 84
Leptochloa coerulescens^, 62
Leptothrium senegalense, 17, 84
Loudetia hordeiformis, 18, 84, 85
phragmitoides, 14, 85
simplex, 16, 18, 22, 85, 86
togoensis, 21, 86
Loudetiopsis kerstingii, 18, 86, 87
Micrachne obtusiflora, 20, 86, 87
Microchloa indica, 16, 17, 87, 88
Mnesithea afrautita^, 99
granularis^, 78
Oplismenus hirtellus, 18, 87, 88
Oropetium aristatum, 14, 88, 89
capense, 16, 88, 89
Oryza barthii, 14, 89, 90
brachyantha, 14, 89, 90
longistaminata, 14, 90, 91
sativa, 14, 90, 91
Oxytenanthera abyssinica, 14, 91, 92
Panicum anabaptistum, 17, 92
antidotale, 17, 92, 93
aphanoneurum^, 93
brazzavillense^, 119
callosum, 15, 22, 93
fluviicola, 17, 22, 93, 94
humile^, 96
laetum, 22, 94
nigerense^, 93
orthostachys^, 125
parvifolium^, 119
repens, 15, 17, 94, 95
stigmatisatum^, 126
subalbidum^, 92
tenellum, 20, 95
turgidum, 14, 95, 96
violaceum^, 42
walense, 16, 96
Parahyparrhenia annua, 14, 96, 97
Paspalidium geminatum^, 107
Paspalum scrobiculatum, 14, 97, 98
Pennisetum ciliare^, 42
glaucum^, 41
hordeoides^, 42
pedicellatum^, 42
polystachion subsp. atrichum^, 43
violaceum^, 44
Phragmites karka, 14, 98
vallatorius^, 98
Poa amabilis^, 75
Rhytachne rottboellioides, 20, 98, 99
triaristata, 20, 99
Rottboellia afraurita, 22, 99, 100
Sacciolepis africana, 18, 99, 100
chevalieri, 17, 22, 99, 100
micrococca, 16, 20, 100, 101
Schizachyrium brevifolium, 16, 101, 102
exile, 21, 102
gresicola, 21, 103
nodulosum, 22, 103, 104
ruderale, 16, 104
rupestre, 23, 104, 105
sanguineum, 16, 105
Schoenefeldia gracilis, 105
Sehima ischaemoides, 16, 106
Setaria barbata, 16, 18, 106, 107
geminata, 14, 107
pumila, 22, 107, 108
sphacelata var. anceps, 18, 107, 108
sphaceleta var. serícea^, 107
verticillata, 22, 108, 109
Sorghastrum stipoides, 18, 109
Sorghum arundinaceum, 23, 110
bicolor, 19, 110, 111
Sporobolus festivus, 20, 21, 111
helvolus, 17, 111, 112
ioclados, 15, 111, 112
microprotus, 21, 112, 113
pectinellus, 20, 21, 112, 113
pyramidalis, 18, 113, 114
spicatus, 14, 114
stolzii, 21, 114, 115
Stapfochloa lamproparia, 19, 115
Stipagrostis acutiflora, 15, 19, 115, 116
hirtigluma, 21, 116
uniplumis, 20, 116, 117
Tetrapogon cenchriformis, 16, 117
Themeda triandra, 18, 23, 117, 118
Tragus berteronianus, 21, 118
racemosus, 21, 118, 119
Trichanthecium brazzavillense, 22, 119
parvifolium, 17, 18, 119, 120
Trichoneura mollis, 22, 120
Tripogon minimus^, 120
Tripogonella minima, 17, 120, 121
Tristachya superba, 17, 121
Triticum aestivum, 14, 121, 122
Urelytrum muricatum, 19, 122
Urochloa arrecta, 18, 122, 123
deflexa, 21, 123
jubata, 21, 123, 124
lata, 15, 124
mutica, 15, 18, 124, 125
orthostachys, 18, 125
ramosa, 21, 125, 126
stigmatisata, 15, 126
trichopus, 16, 18, 126, 127
villosa, 15, 127
xantholeuca, 21, 127, 128
Vossia cuspidata, 14, 128
Zea mays, 21, 128, 129
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