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Heteropogon contortus
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Photo: Theo van der Merwe
Farm Bokplaas, Inhassoro, on the Temane gasfield
Photo: Theo van der Merwe
Farm Bokplaas, Inhassoro, on the Temane gasfield
Photo: Bart Wursten
Bunga Camp, base of Mt Bunga, northwestern Gorongosa National Park.
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Andropogon contortus L. Andropogon hispidissimus Hochst. ex Steud. Heteropogon hispidissimus Hochst. ex A. Rich. |
| Common names: | Spear grass (English) Tanglehead (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Annuals or perennials. Inflorescence a solitary raceme arising terminally and in the axils, sometimes loosely aggregated in a false panicle; raceme with homogamous spikelets for the lower 1/4-2/3 of their length; internodes linear. Sessile spikelets terete; callus pungent; lower glume convex; lower floret reduced to a hyaline lemma; upper floret passing directly into an awn. Pedicellate spikelets male or barren, larger than the sessile, awnless. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | contortus: contorted, twisted |
| Habitat: | In deciduous woodland, wooded grassland and on sand dunes, dominant in open grassy places on dry soils. |
| Altitude range: | 0 - 1400 m |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Pantropical and subtropical. |
| Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,T,MS,GI,M |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Thursday 28 September 2017 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 348. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20. Cope, T.A. (2002). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(4) Pages 146 - 148. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 135. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 460. (Includes a picture). Isaiah, A.M. & Komi, T. (2015). Grasses in the Botswana National Botanic Garden South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria Page 25. (Includes a picture). Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 43. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 105. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 131. Roodt, V. (2015). Grasses & Grazers of Botswana and the surrounding savanna Struik Nature, South Africa Pages 136 - 137. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 138. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 28. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 190. Van Oudtshoorn, F.P. (1992). Grasses of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 66. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Heteropogon contortus:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Heteropogon contortusFlora of Burundi: Heteropogon contortus
Flora of Caprivi: Heteropogon contortus
Flora of Malawi: Heteropogon contortus
Flora of Zambia: Heteropogon contortus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Heteropogon contortus
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Heteropogon contortusBHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Heteropogon contortus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Heteropogon contortus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Heteropogon contortus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Heteropogon contortus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Heteropogon contortus
JSTOR Plant Science: Heteropogon contortus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Heteropogon contortus
Plants of the World Online: Heteropogon contortus
Tropicos: Heteropogon contortus
Wikipedia: Heteropogon contortus
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