Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Imperata | > | cylindrica |
Synonyms: |
Imperata angolensis Fritsch Imperata arundinacea var. africana Andersson Imperata arundinacea var. thunbergii (Retz.) Stapf Imperata arundinacea Cirillo Imperata cylindrica var. africana (Andersson) C.E. Hubb. Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii (Retz.) Pilg. Imperata cylindrica var. major (Nees) C.E. Hubb. Imperata cylindrica var. thunbergii (Retz.) T. Durand & Schinz Imperata dinteri Pilg. Imperata koenigii var. major Nees Lagurus cylindricus L. Saccharum koenigii Retz Saccharum thunbergii Retz |
Common names: | Cottonwool grass (English) Silver spike (English) |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial, a water loving creeping grass, spreading with long rhizomes and often forming dense stands. The inflorescences are silvery and narrow when young, opening up into broad cottonwool spikes later. Culms 10–120 cm high. Panicle 3–22 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, spiciform but occasionally the lowest branches loose. Spikelets 2.2–6 mm long, obscured in copious silky white hairs; stamens 2. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | cylindrica: cylindric |
Habitat: | It is found in poorly drained, damp soil along dams, rivers and vleis. In high rainfall areas it may be found in different habitats where it may become an aggressive weed of disturbed and cultivated land. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 2000 m |
Flowering time: | Aug - Jun |
Worldwide distribution: | Throughout the Old World tropics, extending to the Mediterranean region, SW Asia and Chile |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Cnaphalocrocis trapezalis (Larval foodplant) |
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 353. (Includes a picture). 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 10 - 12. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 46. As Imperata cylindrica koenigii 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. Roodt, V. (2015). Grasses & Grazers of Botswana and the surrounding savanna Struik Nature, South Africa Pages 144 - 145. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 139. 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. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 149. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 190. |
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