Entry From
FZ, Vol 10, Part 4, (2002) Author: T. A. Cope
Names
Dichanthium nodosum Willemet [family GRAMINEAE], in Usteri, Ann. Bot. 18: 11 (1796), nom. superfl., based on Andropogon annulatus Forssk. (but the description is that of D. aristatum).
Andropogon aristatus Poir. [family GRAMINEAE], in Lam., Encycl., Suppl. 1: 585 (1810).
Andropogon mollicomus Kunth [family GRAMINEAE], Révis. Gramin. 1: 365 (1830). Type from Mauritius.
Diplasanthum lanosum Desv. [family GRAMINEAE], Opusc. Sci. Phys. Nat.: 67 (1831). Type from India.
Lepeocercis mollicoma Kunth Nees [family GRAMINEAE], in Edinburgh New Philos. J. 18: 185 (1835).
Andropogon caricosus subsp. mollicomus Kunth Hack. [family GRAMINEAE], in A. & C. de Candolle, Monogr. Phan. 6: 569 (1889).
Andropogon nodosus Willemet Nash [family GRAMINEAE], N. Amer. Fl. 17: 122 (1912).
Diplasanthum caricosum var. mollicomus Kunth Haines [family GRAMINEAE], Bot. Bihar Orissa 5: 1039 (1924). —Stent & Rattray in Proc. & Trans. Rhodesia Sci. Assoc. 32: 9 (1933).
Dichanthium aristatum Poir C.E. Hubb. [family GRAMINEAE], in Bull. Misc. Inform., Kew 1939: 654 (1939). —Sturgeon in Rhodesia Agric. J. 51: 19 (1954). —Chippindall in Meredith, Grasses & Pastures S. Africa 481 (1955). —Simon in Kirkia 8: 17, 50 (1971). —Clayton & Renvoize in F.T.E.A., Gramineae: 723 (1982). —Gibbs Russell et al., Grasses South. Africa [Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa No. 58]: 105 (1990). —Setshogo in Kirkia 17: 143 (2001). Type from Mauritius.
Distribution
Zambia C Luangwa Valley, South Luangwa National Park, near the Lundu Plains, 760 m, 4.v.1966, Astle 4865 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe C Harare, university campus on southern slope, 14.iii.1985, K.E. Bennett in GHS 283137 (K; PRE).Mozambique M Matutuíne (Bela Vista), bank of Maputo River, 11.vii.1958, Mogg 27911A (K; PRE).
Notes
The species is characterized by its robust, suberect habit, by having the peduncles to the racemes villous and by having the culm below the inflorescence strongly pilose. It is related to, and sometimes regarded as conspecific with, D. caricosum (L.) A. Camus (Tanzania and tropical Asia), but this has a glabrous culm below the inflorescence.