Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Elionurus | > | muticus |
Synonyms: |
Andropogon caespitosus A. Rich. Andropogon thimiodorus (Nees) Steud. Elionurus argenteus var. caespitosus (A. Rich.) Hack. Elionurus argenteus var. thimiodorus (Nees) Stapf Elionurus argenteus Nees Elionurus brazzae sensu Simon, non Franch. Elionurus chevalieri Stapf Elionurus glaber E.P. Phillips Elionurus glaber var. villosus E.P. Phillips Elionurus gobariensis Vanderyst Elionurus pretoriensis E.P. Phillips Elionurus thimiodorus Nees Lycurus muticus Spreng. |
Common names: | Wire grass (English) |
Frequency: | Frequent |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Densely tufted perennial grass. The filiform leaves are mostly basal, slightly aromatic when crushed. The mature inflorescences typically curl back in a sickle shape, showing spreading spikelets, covered in long, silvery hairs. These are strongly lemon-scented when crushed. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | muticus: blunt, without a point or awn |
Habitat: | On sandy or rocky soil in grassland and open woodland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 2290 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - May |
Worldwide distribution: | Throughout tropical Africa, South Africa and Yemen; also in tropical and subtropical America. |
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: | Friday 2 June 2006 |
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 345. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 24. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 15. Cope, T.A. (2002). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(4) Pages 156 - 158. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 38. As Elionurus argenteus 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 103. Roodt, V. (2015). Grasses & Grazers of Botswana and the surrounding savanna Struik Nature, South Africa Pages 92 - 93. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 135. 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. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 85. |
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