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| Synonyms: |
Cymbopogon acutispathaceus De Wild. Hyparrhenia acutispathacea (De Wild.) Robyns Hyparrhenia iringensis Pilg. Hyparrhenia spectabilis Stapf |
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| Frequency: | |
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| Description: |
Robust perennial arising from a short rhizome clad in hard cataphylls; culms up to 300 cm high, supported by stilt roots, initially decumbent. Leaf sheaths glabrous or sometimes pubescent at the base; leaf laminas up to 45 cm × 15 mm, firm, glabrous or rarely hirsute at the base. False panicle 20–40 cm long, large, lax, decompound; spatheoles 1.4–2.4 cm long, boat-shaped (lanceolate in profile), glabrous, russet-red tinged with yellow and green at maturity; peduncles 3–9 mm long, up to c. 1/3 the length of the spatheole, barbate above with white hairs; racemes 0.8–1.3 cm long, 3–5-awned per pair, projecting laterally from the spatheole, deflexed; raceme-bases subequal, short, the superior c. 1 mm long, flattened, stiffly barbate, with a scarious rim up to 0.4 mm long at the apex. Homogamous spikelets 7–9 mm long, a single pair at the base of the inferior raceme only, glabrous to puberulous on the back, ciliate on the margins. Sessile spikelets 4–5 mm long; callus 0.5–1 mm long, cuneate, narrowly obtuse to subacute at the apex; inferior glume oblong-lanceolate, glabrescent to sparsely and shortly pubescent; awn 1.8–3.2 cm long, the column pubescent with pallid or tawny hairs. Pedicelled spikelets 5–8 mm long, glabrous to puberulous on the back, ciliate on the margins, terminating in an awn-point up to 6 mm long; callus scarcely developed; pedicel-tooth obscure. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | variabilis: variable, of many forms |
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| Worldwide distribution: | Comoro Is., Java, Madagascar, The eastern half of Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
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| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 350. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 33. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 21. Cope, T.A. (2002). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(4) Pages 117 - 118. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 45. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 105. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 148 - 149. |
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