Compilation
Cynodon plectostachyus

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Name

Identification
Cynodon plectostachyus (K.Schum.) Pilg. [family POACEAE ]
Related name
  • Cynodon plectostachyus

Flora

Entry for CYNODON plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilg. [family POACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, Part (Part 2), page 177, (1974) Author: W. D. CLAYTON, S. M. PHILLIPS AND S. A. RENVOIZE
Names
CYNODON plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilg. [family POACEAE], in E.J. 40: 82 (1907); Ann. list grasses Ug.: 12 (1947); Imp. grassl. pl. Kenya: 39 (1951); R.K.G.: 26 (1958); I.G.U.: 24 (1960); G.T.: 42 (1965). Type: Tanzania, Pangani R. S. of Kilimanjaro, Volkens 477 (B, holo.)
Leptochloa plectostachya K. Schum. [family POACEAE], in P.O.A. C: 112 (1895)
Cynodon ruspolianus Chiov. [family POACEAE], in Ann. 1st. Bot. Roma 7: 70, t. 7 (1897). Type: Ethiopia, Ogaden, Riva 248 (FI, holo. !)
Cynodon plectostachyus (Chiov.) Chiov. var. ruspolianus [family POACEAE], in Webbia 8: 111 (1951)
Information
Stoloniferous perennial without rhizomes; stolons stout and woody, arching, up to 2 mm. in diameter; culms robust, erect, 30–90 cm. high and 1–4 mm. in diameter at the base. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm. long, 4–7 mm. wide, thin, green, harshly scabrid and thinly pilose above and beneath; ligule hyaline, ± 1 mm. long. Racemes 7–20, stout, 3–7 cm. long, tending to curl inwards at maturity, borne in 2–7 closely spaced whorls (very rarely in a single whorl). Spikelets 2.5–3 mm. long; glumes reduced to little triangular scales up to 1/5 as long as the spikelet, the lower 0.2–0.3 mm. long, the upper 0.4–0.6 mm.; lemma stiffly ciliate on the keel with hairs ± 0.3 mm. long, smooth or hispidulous on the flanks; palea stiffly ciliate on the keels.
Range
DISTR. U1; K1, 3, 4, 6, 7; T1, 2, 5
Altitude range
1000–2000 m.
Distribution
KENYA Naivasha, 3 May 1959, McCallum Webster K.46!KENYA Nairobi National Park, 19 June 1949, Bogdan 2486 !KENYA Masai District about 65 km. on Nairobi-Magadi road, opposite Olorkesalie, Ol Keju Nyiro [Olekejo-Ngiro] stream, 16 June 1962, Glover & Samwell [ Paulo ] 2809 !TANZANIA Musoma District Seronera Lodge, 16 May 1961, Greenway 10190 !TANZANIA Masai District N. of Olbalbal, 29 Apr. 1958, Paulo 410 ! & 60 km. on Arusha-Dodoma road, Eluanata Farm, 3 May 1965, Leippert 5703 !UGANDA Karamoja District 3 km. W. of Amudat, Kaporokochoch, 11 Apr. 1956, Harker 358! & N. Karamoja, July 1930, Liebenberg 1802 !
Distribution (external)
Ethiopia
Notes
The species is easily recognized by the tiny glumes, and is also isolated genetically from other members of the genus: 2n = 18. Plants dwarfed by heavy grazing, sometimes only 15 cm. high, may be mistaken at first sight for C. dactylon.

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