Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Brachiaria | > | nigropedata |
Synonyms: |
Brachiaria melanotyla (Hack.) Henr. Panicum melanotylum Hack. Panicum nigropedatum Ficalho & Hiern |
Common names: | Black-footed grass (English) Spotted signal grass (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Tufted perennial grass, growing from a short rhizome. The leaves are mostly basal, covered in velvety hairs; margins entire. The short stalks of the spikelets are darkly coloured, turning purple-black in adult specimens (see pic. to the right). |
Notes: | It is similar to Brachiaria serrata, but that species has densely hairy, reddish spikelets, wider leaves with serrated margins, and it lacks the dark spikelet stalks. |
Derivation of specific name: | nigropedata: black-footed, referring to the black pedicel below the spikelet |
Habitat: | Favouring moist but well-drained sandy soils in savanna woodland. |
Altitude range: | 500 - 1500 m |
Flowering time: | Nov - Apr |
Worldwide distribution: | Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. |
Mozambique distribution: | GI,M |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 6. Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Pages 71 - 73. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 434. (Includes a picture). Isaiah, A.M. & Komi, T. (2015). Grasses in the Botswana National Botanic Garden South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria Page 7. (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 101. Roodt, V. (2015). Grasses & Grazers of Botswana and the surrounding savanna Struik Nature, South Africa Pages 56 - 57. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 132. 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 187. |
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