Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf

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

Morphology General Habit

Tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial up to 60(–100) cm high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes never deflexed, 2–4 cm long, 8- to 13(–16)-awned per pair; raceme-bases unequal, the upper 2.5–5 mm long, filiform; homogamous spikelet-pairs 1 at the base of the lower or both racemes False panicle typically scanty, up to 30 cm long; spatheoles linear-lanceolate, 3–8 cm long, reddish; peduncle about as long as the spatheole, with or without spreading white hairs above

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Pedicelled spikelet 3–7 mm long, white-villous. Sessile spikelet 4–6.5 mm long, villous; awn 10–35 mm long

Distribution

N1–3 Mediterranean region eastwards through Arabia to Pakistan, and southwards to South Africa, but absent from much of tropical Africa.

Ecology

Altitude range 900–2000 m.

Vernacular

Aibarh, aus gurun, bein, deilan, hadaf (Somali)

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

Morphology General Habit

Caespitose perennial arising from short underground rhizomes, the basal leaf-sheaths glabrous or very rarely obscurely puberulous; flowering culms wiry, typically 30–60 cm. high (1 m. or more in exceptionally robust plants), standing over a dense leafy tussock 10–20 cm. high.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades narrowly linear to conduplicate and filiform, 2–15(–30) cm. long, 1–2(–4) mm. wide, flexuous, glaucous, harshly scaberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Homogamous pairs 1 at the base of the lower or both racemes. False panicle typically scanty, up to 30 cm. long, bearing 2–10 raceme-pairs or sometimes more; spatheoles linear-lanceolate, 3–8 cm. long, at length reddish, the peduncles about as long; racemes 2–4 cm. long, 8–13(–16)-awned per pair, white villous, never deflexed; raceme-bases unequal, the upper 2.5–5 mm. long, filiform, glabrous or more often pubescent to hirsute.

Sessile

Sessile spikelet 4–6.5 mm. long, white villous (occasionally the hairs rather sparse); callus 0.5–1.5 mm. long, subacute to acute; awn 10–35 mm. long, puberulous with white hairs 0.1–0.3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Pedicelled spikelet white villous, muticous. Sessile spikelet 4–6.5 mm. long, white villous (occasionally the hairs rather sparse); callus 0.5–1.5 mm. long, subacute to acute; awn 10–35 mm. long, puberulous with white hairs 0.1–0.3 mm. long.

Pedicelled

Pedicelled spikelet white villous, muticous.

Habitat

Deciduous bushland and mountain grassland bordering upland evergreen forest, often on dry grassy slopes; 600–2600 m.

Distribution

K1 K3 K4 K6 T1 T2 T3 T5 T7 T8 U1 U3 Mediterranean and NE. tropical Africa, through Arabia and the Middle East to PakistanSouth Africaisolated records from Niger, Zambia and Angolaalso, probably introduced, in Australia and central America

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

Morphology General Habit

Caespitose perennial arising from short rhizomes; culms up to 60 cm high (up to 1 m in exceptionally robust specimens), wiry, standing above a dense leafy tussock 10–20 cm high.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf sheaths compressed and keeled, glabrous or rarely obscurely puberulous; leaf laminas 2–15(30) cm × 1–2(4) mm, narrowly linear to conduplicate and filiform, flexuous, glaucous, harshly scaberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

False panicle up to 30 cm long, typically scanty with only 2–10 raceme-pairs but sometimes a little fuller with more raceme-pairs; spatheoles 3–8 cm long, linear-lanceolate, at length reddish; peduncles about as long as the spatheoles, glabrous or with white bulbous-based hairs above; racemes 2–4 cm long, 8–13(16)-awned per pair, white-villous, terminally exserted, never deflexed; raceme-bases unequal, the superior 2.5–5 mm long, filiform, glabrous or more usually pubescent to hirsute, with or without a white beard at the foot.

Homogamous

Homogamous spikelets similar to the pedicelled, a single pair at the base of the inferior or both racemes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Sessile spikelets 4–6.5 mm long; callus 0.5–1.5 mm long, subacute to acute; inferior glume linear-elliptic, yellowish-green to violet, white-villous but occasionally the hairs rather sparse; awn 10–35 mm long, puberulous with white hairs 0.1–0.3 mm long. Homogamous spikelets similar to the pedicelled, a single pair at the base of the inferior or both racemes. Pedicelled spikelets 3–7 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, white-villous, acute and muticous at the apex; callus absent; pedicel-tooth 0.2–1 mm long, subulate.

Sessile

Sessile spikelets 4–6.5 mm long; callus 0.5–1.5 mm long, subacute to acute; inferior glume linear-elliptic, yellowish-green to violet, white-villous but occasionally the hairs rather sparse; awn 10–35 mm long, puberulous with white hairs 0.1–0.3 mm long.

Pedicelled

Pedicelled spikelets 3–7 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, white-villous, acute and muticous at the apex; callus absent; pedicel-tooth 0.2–1 mm long, subulate.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial 30–60 cm. high

Morphology Leaves

A dense basal tussock of narrowly linear or filiform leaves

Ecology

Dry soils in open places.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 30-60(-100) cm long; wiry. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2-4 mm long. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform, or linear; flat, or conduplicate; 2-15 cm long; 1-2(-4) mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Synflorescence compound; scanty; 10-30 cm long. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; exserted. Spatheole linear, or lanceolate; 3-8 cm long; membranous; red. Peduncle 3-8 cm long; glabrous, or pilose above. Racemes 2; paired; erect; 2-4 cm long; bearing 4-7(-8) fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs white. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat. Raceme-bases filiform; unequal (the longer measured); 2.5-5 mm long; glabrous, or pubescent, or hirsute. Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; flattened; ciliate; tip oblique; toothed (0.2-1mm).

Sterile

Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme, or 2 in upper raceme; lanceolate; equalling fertile. Basal sterile spikelet glumes smooth on margins; lower glume muticous. Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas, or male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3-7 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; villous; with white hairs; acute; muticous. 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, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4-6.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; 0.5-1.5 mm long; pubescent; base acute; attached obliquely. Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme, or 2 in upper raceme; lanceolate; equalling fertile. Basal sterile spikelet glumes smooth on margins; lower glume muticous. Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas, or male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3-7 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; villous; with white hairs; acute; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4-6.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; 0.5-1.5 mm long; pubescent; base acute; attached obliquely.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume hairs white. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume linear; coriaceous; without keels.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of fertile lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma linear; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10-35 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn puberulous; with 0.2-0.3 mm long hairs. Palea absent or minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

Distribution

Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north, Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, middle Atlantic ocean, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: western Asia and Arabia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: north-central. North America: Mexico. South America: Caribbean, northern South America, and western South America.

Reference

Andropogoneae. WDC.