Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Oxytenanthera | > | abyssinica |
Synonyms: |
Bambusa abyssinica A. Rich. Houzeaubambus borzii (Mattei) Mattei Oxytenanthera borzii Mattei Oxytenanthera braunii Pilg. Oxytenanthera macrothyrsus K. Schum. |
Common names: | Bindura bamboo (English) |
Frequency: | Locally common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Woody perennial, growing in dense clumps. Culms 3–10 m × 5–10 cm, erect. Leaves: lamina 5–25 × 1–3 cm, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, ± glaucous with a fine pungent tip. Spikelet clusters 4–8 cm in diameter,spherical, ± confluent, spiny; bracts to 4 mm, ovate. Spikelets 15–40 mm, very narrowly lanceolate; 1(–2) upper florets bisexual, the rest reduced to lemmas; glumes ovate to oblong, lower 5–8 mm; lemmas narrowly lanceolate, the lowest 12–20 mm, ± hispid on the back, tipped with a rigid spine to 7 mm. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | abyssinica: of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) |
Habitat: | In high rainfall areas at low altitudes |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1160 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Senegal to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E |
Growth form(s): | Shrub over 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Aphysoneura pigmentaria vumba (Food plant) Melanitis libya (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 42. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 96. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 231. Fanshawe, D.B. (1972). The Bamboo, Oxytenanthera abyssinica - Its Ecology, Silviculture and Utilization Kirkia 8(2) Pages 157 - 166. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 50. Launert, E. (1971). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(1) Pages 17 - 19. (Includes a picture). 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 107. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 150. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 71. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Oxytenanthera | > | abyssinica |