Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Setaria | > | megaphylla |
Synonyms: |
Panicum megaphyllum Steud. Panicum oligochaete (K. Schum.) Kneucker Panicum plicatile Hochst. Setaria chevalieri Stapf Setaria insignis de Wit Setaria macrophylla Anderss. Setaria megaphylla var. chevalieri (Stapf) Berhaut Setaria natalensis de Wit Setaria oligochaete K. Schum. Setaria phillipsii de Wit Setaria plicatilis (Hochst.) Engl. |
Common names: | Broad-leaved bristle-grass (English) Vumba grass (English) |
Frequency: | Common in E Highlands; local elsewhere |
Status: | Native in E division; probably introduced around Harare |
Description: |
Robust perennial tufted grass, often forming large clumps. Culms 0.5–3 m. high and 2–10 mm. in diam. at the base. Leaf laminae 5–110 mm. wide, broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate, leaves pleated, long and broad. Inflorescence an open panicle. Panicle 10–60 cm. long, linear to lanceolate, the branches short (occasionally the lowest long and flexuous) and ascending close to the rhachis or projecting laterally like a pagoda; bristles 3–15 mm. long. Spikelets 2.2–3(3.5) mm. long, narrowly ovate to elliptic, acute. Inferior glume 1/3–1/2, the superior 1/2–3/4 length of spikelet. Inferior lemma firmly membranous, as long as the superior. Superior lemma usually smooth and often shining, sometimes rugose below, rarely rugose throughout, becoming light brown. Most parts, particularly the lower culms, densely covered in irritating hairs. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | megaphylla: large-leaved |
Habitat: | Occurring in forest and plantations, and in shady locations in woodland and along streams. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1800 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Jun |
Worldwide distribution: | Tropical Africa to South Africa, tropical America and India. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Annual. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Melanitis leda helena (Food plant) Borbo fatuellus fatuellus (Larval foodplant) Gnophodes betsimena diversa (Larval foodplant) Metisella metis paris (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Thursday 25 January 2007 |
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 361. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 51. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 109. Fanshawe, D.B. (1968). The vegetation of Zambian termitaria. Kirkia 6(2) Pages 169 - 179. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 58. As Setaria chevalierii Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 59. As Setaria plicatilis 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 68. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 84. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 28. Smith, P.P. (1997). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of the North Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Kirkia 16(2): Pages 205 - 245. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 152. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 86. |
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