Home | > | List of families | > | Poaceae | > | Sorghum | > | versicolor |
Synonyms: |
Andropogon serratus Thunb. var. versicolor (Andersson) Hack. Sorghum purpureo-sericeum (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Asch. & Schweinf. var. trinervatum Chiov. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Tall annual laxly tufted grass with culms up to 250 cm high; nodes with a conspicuous ring of long, spreading, silky white hairs; leaf sheaths glabrous except for a beard of long cilia at the mouth. Leaves linear, 10–30 cm long, hairy on both surfaces or occasionally only beneath. Inflorescence an open, simple-branched panicle up to 25 cm long; rhachis internodes and pedicels with long hairs. Spikelets with glumes glossy reddish-brown to black, hairy on the back; awn up to 40 mm long, twisted. |
Notes: | The dark brown to almost black spikelets and the prominent ring of stiff white hairs around the nodes are very distinct characteristics of this grass. |
Derivation of specific name: | versicolor: variously coloured or changing in colour |
Habitat: | In deciduous woodland and wooded grassland, often on waterlogged, black soils and in disturbed places. |
Altitude range: | Up to 1450 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Mali, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. Also in Jemen. |
Malawi distribution: | N,C,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Monday 18 September 2017 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 52. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 33. Cope, T.A. (2002). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(4) Pages 25 - 27. (Includes a picture). 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 140. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 60. 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 110. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 135. Setshogo, M.P. (2000). Notes on the grass subtribe Sorghinae (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) in the Flora Zambesiaca area Kirkia 17(2) Page 139. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 145. Van Oudtshoorn, F.P. (1992). Grasses of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 114. (Includes a picture). |
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