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 in lawns. Certainly, one or the other is an extremely common lawn grass in Zimbabwe and the specimen identified (record 97637) was of S. dimidiatum. There is one record of S. dimidiatum as a possible escape at Crowborough Sewage Works.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Coastal areas in partial shade, occurring inland as an introduction.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	A coastal grass of the Indian Ocean; occurring elsewhere as an introduction, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
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.

Other sources of information about Stenotaphrum dimidiatum:

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Flora of Mozambique: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum

External websites:

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
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Stenotaphrum dimidiatum
JSTOR Plant Science: 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