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This species is accepted, and its native range is Sahara to Tanzania and Indo-China.

[FSOM]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Habit
Harsh, tussock-forming rhizomatous perennial up to 150 cm high; lower sheaths leathery, often densely flabellate
Inflorescences
Inflorescence up to 60 cm long, the racemes 1–4 cm long, erect or curving outwards from the main axis
Spikelets
Spikelets narrowly ovate to linear-oblong, 3–10 mm long; glumes unequal, the lower 0.7–1.5 mm long, the upper 1.1–2 mm long; lemmas straw-coloured or suffused with purple, 1.8–2.7 mm long.
Distribution
N2 Old World tropics.
Ecology
Altitude range c. 5 m.

[GB]
Habit
Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Butt sheaths scarious; pallid, or dark brown; glabrous. Basal innovations intravaginal; flabellate. Culms erect; 50-100 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths as wide as blade at the collar; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5-1 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 10-50 cm long; 2-6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.
Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a multilateral false spike; spreading; oblong; unilateral; 1-2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15-40 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; puberulous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 2-18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2.5-13 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 2-18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2.5-13 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.
Glume
Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.7-1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.1-2 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
Florets
Fertile florets free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 1.5-1.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure; close to margins. Lemma apex acute. Palea oblong; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea apex entire; acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Flowers
Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; entire; emarginate. Anthers 3; linear. Stigmas 2; laterally exserted.
Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; trigonous; without sulcus. Embryo 0.3-0.4 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
Distribution
Africa: north, west tropical, and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: western Asia, Arabia, and China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia.
Reference
Eragrostideae. WDC.

Native to:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central African Repu, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gulf States, Hainan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Yemen

Introduced into:

Cocos (Keeling) Is., Lesser Sunda Is.

Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status
Jul 15, 1934 s.coll. [s.n.], India K000245137
Oct 1, 1929 s.coll. [s.n.], India K000907349
Kerr, A.F.G. [7016], Thailand K000621543
Kerr, A.F.G. [7016], Thailand K000621544
Kerr, A.F.G. [8473], Thailand K000621545
Kerr, A.F.G. [19514], Thailand K000621546
Kerr, A.F.G. [19514], Thailand K000621547
Kerr, A.F.G. [20469], Thailand K000621548
Kerr, A.F.G. [21565], Thailand K000621549
Smitinand, T. [5809], Thailand K000682610
Desai, J. [31], India Desmostachya pingalaiae K000907350 isotype

First published in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 7: 632 (1900)

Accepted by

  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Dobignard, D. & Chatelain, C. (2010). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 1: 1-455. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Kandwal, M.K. & Gupta, B.K. (2009). An update on grass flora of Uttarkhand Indian Journal of Forestry 32: 657-668.
  • Ahmed, Z.U. (ed.) (2008). Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh 12: 1-505. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Cope, T.A., Knees, S.G. & Miller, A.G. (2007). Flora of the Arabian peninsula and Socotra 5(1): 1-387. Edinburgh University Press.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2006). Poaceae Flora of China 22: 1-733. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
  • Boulos, L. (2005). Flora of Egypt 4: 1-617. Al Hadara Publishing, Cairo.
  • Danin, A. (2004). Distribution Atlas of Plants in the Flora Palaestina area: 1-517. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Jerusalem.
  • Miller, A.G. & Morris, M. (2004). Ethnoflora of Soqotra Archipelago: 1-759. The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
  • Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590.
  • Govaerts, R. (2000). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS D: 1-30141.
  • Jongbloed, M., Western, R.A. & Boer, B. (2000). Annotated Check-list for plants in the U.A.E.: 1-90. Zodiac Publishing, Dubai.
  • Press, J.R. et al. (2000). Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal: i-x, 1-430. Natural History Museum, London.
  • Wood, J.R.I. (1997). A Handbook of the Yemen Flora: 1-434. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Thulin, M. (ed.) (1995). Flora of Somalia 4: i-ii, 1-298. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Ghazanfar, S.A. (1992). An Annotated Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Oman and their Vernacular names Scripta Botanica Belgica 2: 1-153.
  • Karthikeyan, S., Jain, S.K., Nayar, M.P. & Sanjappa, M. (1989). Florae Indicae Enumeratio: Monocotyledonae: 1-435. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.
  • Cope, T.A. (1982). Flora of Pakistan 143: 1-678. Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Bor, N.L. (1970). Flora Iranica 70: 1-573. Naturhistorisches Museums Wien.
  • Bor, N.L. (1968). Flora of Iraq 9: 1-588. Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform, Baghdad.

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Dobignard, D. & Chatelain, C. (2010). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 1: 1-455. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Kandwal, M.K. & Gupta, B.K. (2009). An update on grass flora of Uttarkhand Indian Journal of Forestry 32: 657-668.
  • Ahmed, Z.U. (ed.) (2008). Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh 12: 1-505. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Datta, B.K., Saha, R. Roy, M. & Majumder, K. (2008). Grasses of West Tripura district, Tripura, India Pleione 2: 98-105.
  • Cope, T.A., Knees, S.G. & Miller, A.G. (2007). Flora of the Arabian peninsula and Socotra 5(1): 1-387. Edinburgh University Press.
  • Wu, Z. & Raven, P.H. (eds.) (2006). Poaceae Flora of China 22: 1-733. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
  • Danin, A. (2004). Distribution Atlas of Plants in the Flora Palaestina area: 1-517. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Jerusalem.
  • Miller, A.G. & Morris, M. (2004). Ethnoflora of Soqotra Archipelago: 1-759. The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
  • Jongbloed, M., Western, R.A. & Boer, B. (2000). Annotated Check-list for plants in the U.A.E.: 1-90. Zodiac Publishing, Dubai.
  • Press, J.R. et al. (2000). Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal: i-x, 1-430. Natural History Museum, London.
  • Thulin, M. (ed.) (1995). Flora of Somalia 4: i-ii, 1-298. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • George, A.S., Orchard, A.E. & Hewson, H.J. (eds.) (1993). Oceanic islands 2 Flora of Australia 50: 1-606. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  • Karthikeyan, S., Jain, S.K., Nayar, M.P. & Sanjappa, M. (1989). Florae Indicae Enumeratio: Monocotyledonae: 1-435. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.
  • Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(2): 1-94. ORSTOM, Bangui.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Bor, N.L. (1968). Flora of Iraq 9: 1-588. Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform, Baghdad.
  • Camus, E.G. & Camus, A. in H. Lecomte (1922). Flore Générale de l'indo-Chine 1(3): 193-336.

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, Vol 4, (1995) Author: by T. A. Cope [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

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Flora of Somalia
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© Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

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