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Brachiaria brizantha
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Greystone Park NR
Photo: Bart Wursten
Greystone Park NR
Photo: David Hartung
Monavale Vlei
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main road from Thazima Gate near elephant Sanctuary, Nyika National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main road from Thazima Gate near elephant Sanctuary, Nyika National Park.
Photo: Petra Ballings
Along main road from Thazima Gate near elephant Sanctuary, Nyika National Park.
Photo: Petra Ballings
Along main road from Thazima Gate near elephant Sanctuary, Nyika National Park.
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Brachiaria brizantha var. angustifolia Stent & Rattray Panicum brizanthum A. Rich. |
| Common names: | Common signal grass (English) Large-seeded millet grass (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Tufted perennial. Culms 30–200 cm. high, erect or sometimes geniculately ascending. Leaf laminae 3–20 mm. wide, flat. Inflorescence of (1)2–16 racemes, these mostly 4–20 cm. long, bearing spikelets singly and usually in 1 row; rhachis crescentic in section, c. 1 mm. wide with narrow involute wings, ciliate on the margins. Spikelets 4–6 mm. long, glabrous or sometimes sparsely pubescent, obtuse to subacute with a slight stipe at base. Inferior glume 1/3 length of spikelet, acute or obtuse, separated from the superior by a short internode; superior glume and inferior lemma cartilaginous, dully shining. Superior lemma granulose, subacute. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | In savanna woodland and grassland. It is a commonly planted pasture grass. |
| Altitude range: | 700 - 2300 m |
| Flowering time: | Dec - Apr |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa and Southern Africa. Introduced elsewhere. |
| 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: | Thursday 4 July 2019 |
| 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 341. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. (2002). A checklist of Zimbabwean grasses Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 16. Pretoria. Page 11. 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 70. 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. Fish, L., Mashau, A.C., Moeaha, M.J. & Nembudani, M.T. (2015). Identification Guide to Southern African Grasses Strelitzia 36 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria Page 124. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 31. Klaassen Esmerialda, E.S. & Craven P. (2003). Checklist of grasses in Namibia SABONET Report No. 20 Page 16. 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 100. 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 247. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Brachiaria brizantha:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Brachiaria brizanthaFlora of Caprivi: Brachiaria brizantha
Flora of Mozambique: Brachiaria brizantha
Flora of Zambia: Brachiaria brizantha
Flora of Zimbabwe: Brachiaria brizantha
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Brachiaria brizantha
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Brachiaria brizanthaAfrican Plant Database: Brachiaria brizantha
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Brachiaria brizantha
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Brachiaria brizantha
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Brachiaria brizantha
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Brachiaria brizantha
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Brachiaria brizantha
JSTOR Plant Science: Brachiaria brizantha
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Brachiaria brizantha
Plants of the World Online: Brachiaria brizantha
Tropicos: Brachiaria brizantha
Wikipedia: Brachiaria brizantha
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