G.503. Setaria P. Beauv. - Bristle grasses

CYMBOSETARIA Schweick.

Clayton, W.D. (1989) Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3)

Description of the genus

Annuals or perennials. Leaves flat or folded, sometimes plicate. Ligule usually a ciliate rim. Inflorescence usually a panicle, either open or dense and spike-like; the spikelets subtended by 1 or more bristles which persist on the axis after the spikelets fall. Spikelets oblong to ovate, ± plano-convex, awnless; glumes unequal, the lower generally much smaller, ovate from a clasping base; lower floret male or barren, as long as the spikelet, herbaceous; upper lemma crustaceous, strongly convex on the back, often rugose.

Derivation of name: from the Latin, seta, a bristle, referring to the persistent bristles subtending the spikelets

Worldwide: c.150 species in tropical and warm zones

Malawi: 15 taxa.

The larvae of the following species of insect eat species of this genus:
Gnophodes betsimena (Yellow-banded evening brown)
Setaria sphacelata

Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
atrata HackelN
grandis Stapf [End]NDescription, Image
homonyma (Steud.) Chiov.N,C,SDescription, Image
incrassata (Hochst.) Hack.C,SDescription, Image
italica (L.) P. Beauv.SDescription
lindenbergiana (Nees) StapfDescription, Image
longiseta P. Beauv.N,C,SDescription
megaphylla (Steud.) T. Durand & SchinzN,C,SDescription, Image
nigrirostris (Nees) Dur. & SchinzC
orthosticha K. Schum. ex R.A.W. Herrm.N,C,SDescription
petiolata Stapf & C.E. Hubb.N,C,SDescription
pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.N,C,SDescription, Image
sagittifolia (A. Rich.) Walp.N,C,SDescription, Image
sphacelata (Schumach.) MossN,C,SDescription, Image
verticillata (L.) P. Beauv.N,C,SDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Setaria:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Setaria
Flora of Caprivi: Setaria
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Setaria
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Setaria
Flora of Mozambique: Setaria
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Setaria
Flora of Zambia: Setaria
Flora of Zimbabwe: Setaria
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Setaria

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Setaria
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Setaria
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Setaria
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Setaria
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Setaria
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Setaria
JSTOR Plant Science: Setaria
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Setaria
Plants of the World Online: Setaria
Tropicos: Setaria
Wikipedia: Setaria

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Genus page: Setaria.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=202, retrieved 28 March 2024

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