Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst

First published in Bull. Agric. Congo Belge 13: 342 (1922)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Ethiopia to Botswana. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as animal food, a poison and a medicine and has environmental uses.

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–2000 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, Quindío, Risaralda, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.
Habit
Herb.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, artificial - terrestrial.
[UPFC]

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular
African star grass
Morphology General Habit
Stoloniferous perennial herb without rhizomes; stolons stout and woody, creeping on ground surface
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades flat, linear-lanceolate, 5–16 cm long, 2–6 mm broad
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence with 1 (sometimes 2) whorls of 4–9 slender racemes 4–7 cm long; spikelets 2–3 mm long, green or sometimes reddish or purple; glumes narrowly lanceolate, the upper 0.5–0.75 times the length of the spikelet; lemma silky pubescent on keel, the palea glabrous.
Ecology
In pastures.
Distribution
Grand Cayman. Native to Kenya and other parts of East Africa, now introduced in many tropical countries.]
[Cayman]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Gramineae, T. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:2. 1999

Morphology General Habit
Stoloniferous perennial without rhizomes; stolons stout; culms robust to fairly slender, up to 60 cm tall, soft, not woody (but stolons woody); leaf laminas 4–11.5 cm × 2–6 mm, flat.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 4–16 in 1 or sometimes 2 whorls, 4–20 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 2–2.6 mm long, green or pigmented with red or purple; glumes narrowly lanceolate in profile, the superior 1/2–3/4 as long as the spikelet; lemma silky-pubescent to softly ciliate on the keel.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Stoloniferous perennial without rhizomes
Vegetative Multiplication Stolons
Stolons stout and woody, lying flat on the ground
Morphology Stem
Stems robust to fairly slender, up to 60 cm high, soft, not woody
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 4–13 in 1 or 2 whorls, 4–10 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes shorter than the floret, rarely as long; lemma 2–3 mm long, silky-pubescent to softly ciliate on the keel.
[FSOM]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Naturalizada y adventicia en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 2000 m.; Andes, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit
Stoloniferous perennial without rhizomes; stolons stout, lying flat on the ground; culms robust to fairly slender, 30–60 cm. high, soft, not woody (but stolons woody).
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades flat, mostly 5–16 cm. long, 2–6 mm. wide, thin and green or rather stiff and glaucous, scaberulous, with or without scattered hairs; ligule a scarious rim 0.3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes in 1, or sometimes 2, whorls, slender, even flexuous, but not stiffly spreading.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 2–3 mm. long, green or pigmented with red or purple; glumes narrowly lanceolate in side view, the upper 1/2–3/4 the length of the spikelet (or sometimes equalling the spikelet in var. robustus); lemma silky pubescent to softly ciliate on the keel; palea glabrous.
[FTEA]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
enredalocas, estrella, estrella africana, pasto estrella, tumbabobos, tumbaviejos
[UNAL]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Height
30–60 cm. high.
[FWTA]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes absent. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms geniculately ascending; 30-60 cm long; 1-3 mm diam.; firm. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 5-16 cm long; 2-6 mm wide; stiff, or firm; mid-green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 4-8(-13); digitate; straight, or flexuous; unilateral; 4-7(-10) cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2-3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2-3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.5-0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2-3 mm long; cartilaginous; mid-green, or red; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent, or ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels eciliate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and middle Atlantic ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: Malesia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern and north-central. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.
Reference
Cynodonteae. FTEA.
[GB]

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

Morphology Stem
Stems stout, 2–3 mm in diam. at the base; leaves thin, green, 5–6 mm wide; racemes 6–13, each 6–10 cm long.
Distribution
S2 tropical East Africa, introduced elsewhere.
[FSOM]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit
Coarse stoloniferous perennial without rhizomes; stolons stout, lying flat on the ground; culms very robust, 40–100 cm. high, 2–6 mm. in diameter at the base, hard, shining and woody.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades flat, 3–25 cm. long, 3–7 mm. wide, stiff and harsh, glaucous, scaberulous, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs; ligule a scarious rim 0.3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 5–17, 4–8 cm. long (typically 5–6 cm.), in 2–5 whorls (rarely 1), stiff and spreading.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 2.5–3 mm. long, strongly pigmented with red or purple; glumes narrowly lanceolate in side view, 1-nerved, the upper ± 3/4 as long as the spikelet; lemma weakly pubescent on the keel above; palea glabrous.
Figures
Fig. 89, p. 320.
Habitat
Rich soils, particularly old cattle kraals and abandoned cultivation; favours moist streamside sites;900–2300 m.
Distribution
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T7 U2 Ethiopia to Malawi and Mozambique, mainly in the Rift Valleysintroduced as a fodder grass elsewhere
[FTEA]

Gramineae, T. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:2. 1999

Morphology General Habit
Coarse stoloniferous perennial without rhizomes; stolons stout; culms very robust, up to 130 cm tall, hard, shining and woody at the base, erect; leaf laminas 5–20 cm × 3–7 mm, flat.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 6–17 in 2–5 (rarely 1) whorls, 6–11 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 2.4–2.8 mm long, strongly pigmented with red or purple; glumes narrowly lanceolate in profile, the superior c. 3/4 as long as the spikelet; lemma glabrous, thinly pubescent or occasionally pilose on the keel.
[FZ]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes absent. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms geniculately ascending; 40-100 cm long; 2-6 mm diam.; woody. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 3-25 cm long; 3-7 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 5-17; digitate; in several whorls; spreading; straight; unilateral; 4-8 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2.5-3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2.5-3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5-3 mm long; cartilaginous; red, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy above. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels eciliate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: north-central.
Reference
Cynodonteae. FTEA.
[GB]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Height
Up to 1 m. high
Note
A species from eastern Africa introduced as a fodder grass.
[FWTA]

Uses

Use Animal Food
Used as animal food.
Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Poisons
Poisons.
[UPFC]

Sources

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    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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    • Copyright applied to individual images
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    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
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    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0