Index to Flowering Plants in the Order Poales (Grasses, Sedges)
Family: Cyperaceae
Cyperus papyrus Papyrus https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.p ... 43#p170683
Family: Poaceae
Stipagrostis ciliata Tall Bushman Grass, Large Bushman Grass https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.p ... 30#p178830
Africa Wild Grass Book - Order Poales (Grasses, Sedges)
Moderator: Klipspringer
Re: Africa Wild Grass Book - Order Poales (Grasses, Sedges)
Papyrus Cyperus papyrus
Order: Poales. Family: Cyperaceae
© Lisbeth
Okavango Delta
© Lisbeth
Okavango Delta
© Flutterby
Description
Very robust perennial sedge, growing from a stout creeping rhizome. Inflorescence "mop-like" with numerous clusters of spikelets. Flowering time: Nov - Mar. Stems triangular to rounded, up to 4 m and up to 40 mm thick at the base. Each is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, shiny stalks, which resemble a feather duster when young. The stalks elongate later and bend gracefully downward under their own weight so that the cluster becomes almost spherical in shape. During summer these stalks bear small brown spikelets (groups of flowers) and eventually numerous tiny dark brown fruits are borne in the axils of glumes (tiny scales). The culms are connected by stout horizontal rhizomes which creep along the substrate under water and are anchored by numerous roots. The younger parts of the rhizome are covered by red-brown, papery, triangular scales, which also cover the base of the culms and represent reduced leaves. It is therefore incorrect to describe the plants as leafless. Similar brown papery structures (termed bracts) occur at the tops of the culms below the clusters of thin stalks.
Distribution
Throughout Africa, Madagascar and the Mediterranean countries. In southern Africa it is limited to the lower altitude, warmer parts of Namibia, Botswana, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
Habitat
In permanent swamps, where it may form extensive colonies, and fringing major rivers.
Order: Poales. Family: Cyperaceae
Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta
© FlutterbyDescription
Very robust perennial sedge, growing from a stout creeping rhizome. Inflorescence "mop-like" with numerous clusters of spikelets. Flowering time: Nov - Mar. Stems triangular to rounded, up to 4 m and up to 40 mm thick at the base. Each is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, shiny stalks, which resemble a feather duster when young. The stalks elongate later and bend gracefully downward under their own weight so that the cluster becomes almost spherical in shape. During summer these stalks bear small brown spikelets (groups of flowers) and eventually numerous tiny dark brown fruits are borne in the axils of glumes (tiny scales). The culms are connected by stout horizontal rhizomes which creep along the substrate under water and are anchored by numerous roots. The younger parts of the rhizome are covered by red-brown, papery, triangular scales, which also cover the base of the culms and represent reduced leaves. It is therefore incorrect to describe the plants as leafless. Similar brown papery structures (termed bracts) occur at the tops of the culms below the clusters of thin stalks.
Distribution
Throughout Africa, Madagascar and the Mediterranean countries. In southern Africa it is limited to the lower altitude, warmer parts of Namibia, Botswana, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
Habitat
In permanent swamps, where it may form extensive colonies, and fringing major rivers.
Re: Africa Wild Grass Book - Order Poales (Grasses, Sedges)
Tall Bushman Grass, Large Bushman Grass Stipagrostis ciliata capensis Langbeenboesmangras
Order: Poales. Family: Poaceae
© ExFmem
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Description of the genus
Annuals or perennials, with a knotty rhizomatous base. Inflorescence a narrow, often spike-like, terminal panicle. Spikelets 1-flowered, disarticulating above the glumes; floret bisexual equalling or shorter than the glumes. Glumes persistent, (1-)3(-11)-nerved, equal or unequal, acuminate to obtuse. Lemma cylindric, 3-nerved, becoming indurate at maturity, articulation present; basal callus densely barbate or glabrous; awns 3; at least the central awn plumose, or, if glabrous, then with a penicil of hairs at the base of the column.
Description
It can be easily recognized by its magnificent feather-like inflorescence with a ring of dense hair around its nodes. It is both an annual and perennial plant, depending on the amount of moisture it receives.
Perennial up to 85 cm high, densely or laxly caespitose. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, simple, mostly branched at the base, glabrous, 2-3-noded; nodes barbate (with long spreading hairs). Leaf-sheaths crowded at the base, striate, whitish, glabrous or more or less woolly along the margins, sometimes densely villose, the upper ones tight. Ligule a short-ciliate rim; auricles short-ciliate, those of innovations long-barbate; collar glabrous. Leaf-laminae variable in length, convolute, nearly setaceous to pungent, more or less recurved, scabrous or minutely pubescent or hirtellous above, glabrous and smooth or sparsely pilose beneath. Panicle up to 30 cm long, usually narrowly contracted but often open and sometimes lax, with a nearly glabrous axis, and with erect, appressed, solitary or usually 2-nate branches. Spikelets linear-oblong, pallid or straw-coloured, often with purple spot at the base. Glumes nearly equal, 3-nerved, usually glabrous, obtuse or subacute, subcoriaceous; the inferior 8.5-11 mm long, the superior 9-12 mm long. Lemma shorter than the glumes, cylindric, smooth, articulated near the middle; callus 1.5-2.5 mm long, very acute, long-hairy; column 10-13 mm long, straight or slightly twisted, filiform; central awn up to 4.5 cm long, plumose, more or less naked in the lower 1/4, with a short naked exserted apex; the lateral awns 1.5-2 cm long, very fine, mostly erect, scaberulous.
Distribution
Botswana, South Africa, Namibia. (Western Karoo, Kalahari, Namib)
Habitat
Deep sandy soils and dunes. Well drained soils in sandveld, it is most common on gravel and sandy plains.
Order: Poales. Family: Poaceae
© ExFmemKgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Description of the genus
Annuals or perennials, with a knotty rhizomatous base. Inflorescence a narrow, often spike-like, terminal panicle. Spikelets 1-flowered, disarticulating above the glumes; floret bisexual equalling or shorter than the glumes. Glumes persistent, (1-)3(-11)-nerved, equal or unequal, acuminate to obtuse. Lemma cylindric, 3-nerved, becoming indurate at maturity, articulation present; basal callus densely barbate or glabrous; awns 3; at least the central awn plumose, or, if glabrous, then with a penicil of hairs at the base of the column.
Description
It can be easily recognized by its magnificent feather-like inflorescence with a ring of dense hair around its nodes. It is both an annual and perennial plant, depending on the amount of moisture it receives.
Perennial up to 85 cm high, densely or laxly caespitose. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, simple, mostly branched at the base, glabrous, 2-3-noded; nodes barbate (with long spreading hairs). Leaf-sheaths crowded at the base, striate, whitish, glabrous or more or less woolly along the margins, sometimes densely villose, the upper ones tight. Ligule a short-ciliate rim; auricles short-ciliate, those of innovations long-barbate; collar glabrous. Leaf-laminae variable in length, convolute, nearly setaceous to pungent, more or less recurved, scabrous or minutely pubescent or hirtellous above, glabrous and smooth or sparsely pilose beneath. Panicle up to 30 cm long, usually narrowly contracted but often open and sometimes lax, with a nearly glabrous axis, and with erect, appressed, solitary or usually 2-nate branches. Spikelets linear-oblong, pallid or straw-coloured, often with purple spot at the base. Glumes nearly equal, 3-nerved, usually glabrous, obtuse or subacute, subcoriaceous; the inferior 8.5-11 mm long, the superior 9-12 mm long. Lemma shorter than the glumes, cylindric, smooth, articulated near the middle; callus 1.5-2.5 mm long, very acute, long-hairy; column 10-13 mm long, straight or slightly twisted, filiform; central awn up to 4.5 cm long, plumose, more or less naked in the lower 1/4, with a short naked exserted apex; the lateral awns 1.5-2 cm long, very fine, mostly erect, scaberulous.
Distribution
Botswana, South Africa, Namibia. (Western Karoo, Kalahari, Namib)
Habitat
Deep sandy soils and dunes. Well drained soils in sandveld, it is most common on gravel and sandy plains.
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Re: Africa Wild Grass Book - Order Poales (Grasses, Sedges)
Bulrush Typha capensis
Order: Poales. Family: Poaceae
Marloth Park, stream bank © Richprins
Description
Typha capensis is a monoecious (having the reproductive organs in separate structures but borne on the same individual), perennial marsh herb which has a very fast colonizing habit by means of creeping rhizomes. The stems are erect and simple, and terminate in dense, cylindrical flower-spikes. The leaves are long, bluish grey to green, strap-shaped and with parallel veins. Leaves vary in length from 0.5 to 1.5 m and more.
From December to January, the stems end in the typical, cylindrical, velvety brown ‘Bulrush’ flower. These turn into seeds covered in ‘cotton wool’ which helps with dispersal of seeds.The inflorescence is a dense spike of closely packed flowers, yellow at first, turning brown later. Flowers are unisexual and minute. The male flowers are in the upper portion and female flowers in the lower portion of the spike. The flowers themselves, lacking tepals, are reduced to 1 carpel (female flowers) or 2-5 stamens (male flowers), packed together with hairs. The fruit is 1-seeded, minute and has many hairs which aid wind dispersal.
Distribution
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, eSwatini and South Africa (Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western Cape).
Habitat
A species of dams, marshes and water courses, often forming large colonies.
Order: Poales. Family: Poaceae
- Bulrush.jpg (200.66 KiB) Viewed 465 times
Description
Typha capensis is a monoecious (having the reproductive organs in separate structures but borne on the same individual), perennial marsh herb which has a very fast colonizing habit by means of creeping rhizomes. The stems are erect and simple, and terminate in dense, cylindrical flower-spikes. The leaves are long, bluish grey to green, strap-shaped and with parallel veins. Leaves vary in length from 0.5 to 1.5 m and more.
From December to January, the stems end in the typical, cylindrical, velvety brown ‘Bulrush’ flower. These turn into seeds covered in ‘cotton wool’ which helps with dispersal of seeds.The inflorescence is a dense spike of closely packed flowers, yellow at first, turning brown later. Flowers are unisexual and minute. The male flowers are in the upper portion and female flowers in the lower portion of the spike. The flowers themselves, lacking tepals, are reduced to 1 carpel (female flowers) or 2-5 stamens (male flowers), packed together with hairs. The fruit is 1-seeded, minute and has many hairs which aid wind dispersal.
Distribution
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, eSwatini and South Africa (Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western Cape).
Habitat
A species of dams, marshes and water courses, often forming large colonies.