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Brachiaria serrata
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare
Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare
Photo: Bart Wursten
By path from Kopje Tops to Tingwa Raphia Palm Botanical Reserve, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area
Photo: Bart Wursten
By path from Kopje Tops to Tingwa Raphia Palm Botanical Reserve, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area
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| Synonyms: |
Brachiaria serrata var. gossypina (A. Rich.) Stapf Brachiaria andongensis (Rendle) Stapf Brachiaria brachylopha Stapf Holcus serratus Thunb. Panicum nigropedatum var. basipilifer Chiov. Panicum serratum var. hirtum Kuntze Panicum serratum var. holosericeum Th. Dur. & Schinz Panicum andongense Rendle Panicum gossypinum A. Rich. Panicum scopuliferum Trin. Panicum serratum var. brachylophum (Stapf) A. Chev. Panicum serratum var. gossypinum (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz Panicum serratum (Thunb.) Spreng. Sorghum serratum (Thunb.) Roem. & Schult. |
| Common names: | Velvet signal grass (English) |
| Frequency: | Common |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Tufted perennial, the basal sheaths silky tomentose. Culms 20–100 cm. high, erect or ascending. Leaf laminae glabrous to softly pilose, the margins ± cartilaginous. Inflorescence of 5–15 racemes, these 0.5–2 cm. long, short and compact, bearing the spikelets in 2 rows on a triquetrous rhachis beset with a few bristles. Spikelets 2–4.5 mm. long, ovate-elliptic, with a transverse fringe of pink or silver hairs above (rarely the fringe missing) otherwise pubescent, cuspidate to acuminate (rarely obtuse), without a stipe. Inferior glume 1/2 length of spikelet, subacute; superior glume obtuse to acuminate. Inferior lemma hollowed along the mid-nerve, sometimes obtuse in our area but usually tipped by a subulate awn-point up to 1 mm. long. Superior lemma striate, acute. |
| Notes: | Perennial tufted grass, up to 1 m. The leaves are basal, short with thickened serrated margins. The spikelets are densely covered in reddish hairs. See B. nigropedata for comparison. |
| Derivation of specific name: | serrata: serrate, saw-toothed |
| Habitat: | In rocky areas of sandy or loamy soil in grassland or deciduous woodland. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 600 - 1800 m |
| Flowering time: | Oct - Mar |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical and South Africa. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Saturday 7 October 2017 |
| Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. 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) Page 71. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 131. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 32. 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. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 127. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 132. Van Oudtshoorn, F.P. (1992). Grasses of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 253. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Brachiaria serrata:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Brachiaria serrataFlora of Malawi: Brachiaria serrata
Flora of Mozambique: Brachiaria serrata
Flora of Zambia: Brachiaria serrata
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Brachiaria serrataAfrican Plant Database: Brachiaria serrata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Brachiaria serrata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Brachiaria serrata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Brachiaria serrata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Brachiaria serrata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Brachiaria serrata
JSTOR Plant Science: Brachiaria serrata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Brachiaria serrata
Plants of the World Online: Brachiaria serrata
Tropicos: Brachiaria serrata
Wikipedia: Brachiaria serrata
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