Stenotaphrum dimidiatum (L.) Brongn.

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Photo: Mark Hyde
Garden, Harry Pichanick Drive, New Alexandra Park

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Synonyms:	Panicum dimidiatum L.
Common names:	Buffalo grass (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Introduced (cultivated) and rarely escaping
Description:	Perennial grass with extensive stolons. Leaf lamina 5-8 cm long, linear, keeled; apex obtuse. Inflorescence 6-12 cm long; central axis thick, flattened on one surface, hollowed out on the other side, bearing racemes in cavities on alternate sides of the wavy midrib; the wing of the upper cavities produced into a broad acute tooth. Racemes 7-15 mm long, bearing 3-8 spikelets. Spikelets 4-5 mm long, lanceolate.
Notes:	There seems to be some uncertainty in the literature as to whether it is this species or Stenotaphrum secundatum (or both) which is planted as a lawn grass. Certainly, one or the other is an extremely common lawn grass in Zimbabwe. There is one record of S. dimidiata as a possible escape.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	A coastal grass of the Indian Ocean; occurring elsewhere as an introduction.
Zimbabwe distribution:	C,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Metisella metis paris (Larval foodplant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Pages 112 - 113. (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 110.

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Flora of Mozambique: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum

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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
African Plant Database: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
iNaturalist: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
JSTOR Plant Science: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Kew Monocotyledon checklist: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Plants of the World Online: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Tropicos: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Wikipedia: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum