Poaceae
Diectomis

Diectomis fastigiata (Sw.) P.Beauv.

First published in Ess. Agrostogr.: 132 (1812)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropics & Subtropics. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as animal food and a medicine.

Descriptions

Vorontsova, M.S., Ratovonirina, G. & Randriamboavonjy, T. 2013. Revision of Andropogon and Diectomis (Poaceae: Sacchareae) in Madagascar and the new Andropogon itremoensis from the Itremo Massif. Kew Bulletin 68: 193. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-01

Morphology General Habit
Loosely tufted annual, 30 – 200 cm high, orange-brown when dry, most leaves basal, the shoots not compressed, the culms branched in the upper part
Morphology Leaves
Leaf sheaths glabrous Leaf blades linear, flat to folded or rolled, 5 – 30 cm long, 1 – 2 mm wide, glabrous, apically filiform, held erect or curved, not curling when dry, the margins smooth Basal leaf sheaths rounded
Morphology Leaves Ligules
Ligule scarious, acute, 3.5 – 7 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of single terminal exserted or partly exserted racemes, the racemes 3 – 5 cm long, fragile, with prominent white hair tufts when dry, the sessile spikelet tightly wedged between the pedicel and internode, the internode and pedicels clavate broadening to 0.7 – 0.8 mm wide at the apex, yellow, ciliate on both margins, the cilia dense, clearly visible without magnification when dry, 1 – 4.5 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Sessile spikelet bisexual, 4.5 – 5.5 mm long; callus short, broadly rounded, long-ciliate; lower glume linear, deeply depressed between the dorsal keels, ciliate between the keels; upper glume with an awn 10 – 20 mm long; upper lemma bilobed for c- 1/4 of its length, with a geniculate awn 30 – 38 mm long Pedicelled spikelet staminate, 5 – 9 mm long, around twice the size of the sessile spikelet, elliptic, foliaceous, orange with an awn 2 – 6 mm long.
Distribution
Pantropical, likely introduced in Madagascar. Apparently rare. Map 10.
Ecology
Savanna on basalt; low elevation.
Note
Placed in Andropogon by Bosser (1969), Clayton (1967) and Clayton and Renvoize (1986), it is treated as a distinct genus by Skendzic et al. (2007) and Soreng et al. (2013).
[KBu]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia. Elevation range: 0–1500 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Casanare, Huila, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Tolima, Vichada.
Habit
Herb.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: savanna, native grassland.
[UPFC]

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
Tufted annual; culms 15–200 cm. high.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades 5–30 cm. long, 1–4 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of single racemes gathered into a leafy panicle; racemes 2–5 cm. long; internodes and pedicels clavate, ciliate.
Sessile
Sessile spikelet 4–5 mm. long, including a short callus; lower glume linear, deeply depressed between the dorsal keels, glabrous; upper glume with an awn 10–20 mm. long; upper lemma bidentate, with an awn 2.5–4 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Pedicelled spikelet large, elliptic to narrowly oblong, 5–9 mm. long, papery, glabrous, with an awn 4–8 mm. long. Sessile spikelet 4–5 mm. long, including a short callus; lower glume linear, deeply depressed between the dorsal keels, glabrous; upper glume with an awn 10–20 mm. long; upper lemma bidentate, with an awn 2.5–4 cm. long.
Pedicelled
Pedicelled spikelet large, elliptic to narrowly oblong, 5–9 mm. long, papery, glabrous, with an awn 4–8 mm. long.
Habitat
Deciduous bushland and wooded grassland, often on dry soils; 400–1700 m.
Distribution
T1 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 throughout the tropics
[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Annual, up to about 1 m. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Conspicuous purplish papery pedicelled spikelets
Ecology
Shallow or sandy soils, and dry fallow land.
[FWTA]

Morphology General Habit
Annual; caespitose. Culms 15-200 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5-30 cm long; 1-4 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Synflorescence compound. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole. Racemes 1; single; 2-5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes clavate. Rhachis internode tip transverse; crateriform; with simple rim. Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels clavate; ciliate.
Sterile
Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 5-9 mm long; longer than fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes membranous; glabrous; acute; awned; one glume awned; with 4-8 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4-5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base obtuse; inserted. Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 5-9 mm long; longer than fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes membranous; glabrous; acute; awned; one glume awned; with 4-8 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4-5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pilose; base obtuse; inserted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled; keeled dorsally. Lower glume surface deeply depressed; glabrous. Upper glume linear; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 10-20 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma oblong; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 25-40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea lanceolate; 0 -veined; without keels.
Distribution
Africa: Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Malesia. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.
Reference
Andropogoneae. FTEA.
[GB]

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
Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1500 m.; Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

Gramineae, T. A. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:4. 2002

Morphology General Habit
Annual; culms up to 150 cm high, erect or sometimes geniculate at the base, much branched above, tinged with pink to dark red.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf sheaths glabrous; ligule 4–7 mm long, acute; laminas 8.5–34 cm × 1.5–4 mm, loosely and shortly pilose, tapering to a fine point at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes solitary, 3–5 cm long, shortly exserted from the spatheoles; peduncles longer than the racemes; internodes and pedicels clavate, ciliate on both margins with hairs c. 2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Sessile spikelet 3.5–4.5 mm long, strongly compressed between internode and pedicel; inferior glume with a deep median groove, glabrous; superior glume convex on the back, 2-toothed at the apex and with an awn 5.5–18 mm long; superior lemma bifid in the upper 1/4; awn geniculate, 24–48 mm long; anthers 1–1.5 mm long, straw-coloured. Pedicelled spikelet sterile, 6.5–10 mm long; inferior glume broadly lanceolate, papery, glabrous, faintly to deeply flushed reddish-purple and with an awn 5.5–7(15) mm long; superior glume much smaller.
Sessile
Sessile spikelet 3.5–4.5 mm long, strongly compressed between internode and pedicel; inferior glume with a deep median groove, glabrous; superior glume convex on the back, 2-toothed at the apex and with an awn 5.5–18 mm long; superior lemma bifid in the upper 1/4; awn geniculate, 24–48 mm long; anthers 1–1.5 mm long, straw-coloured.
Pedicelled
Pedicelled spikelet sterile, 6.5–10 mm long; inferior glume broadly lanceolate, papery, glabrous, faintly to deeply flushed reddish-purple and with an awn 5.5–7(15) mm long; superior glume much smaller.
[FZ]

Uses

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

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • 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/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • 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 Bulletin

    • Kew Bulletin
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/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

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0