Brachiaria serrata (Thunb.) Stapf

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Brachiaria serrata

Picture: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare

Brachiaria serrata

Picture: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare

Brachiaria serrata

Picture: Bart Wursten
By path from Kopje Tops to Tingwa Raphia Palm Botanical Reserve, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Brachiaria serrata

Picture: Bart Wursten
By path from Kopje Tops to Tingwa Raphia Palm Botanical Reserve, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

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Synonyms: Brachiaria serrata var. gossypina (A. Rich.) Stapf
Brachiaria andongensis (Rendle) Stapf
Brachiaria brachylopha Stapf
Holcus serratus Thunb.
Panicum nigropedatum var. basipilifer Chiov.
Panicum serratum var. hirtum Kuntze
Panicum serratum var. holosericeum Th. Dur. & Schinz
Panicum andongense Rendle
Panicum gossypinum A. Rich.
Panicum scopuliferum Trin.
Panicum serratum (Thunb.) Spreng.
Panicum serratum var. brachylophum (Stapf) A. Chev.
Panicum serratum var. gossypinum (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz
Sorghum serratum (Thunb.) Roem. & Schult.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Tufted perennial, the basal sheaths silky tomentose. Culms 20–100 cm. high, erect or ascending. Leaf laminae glabrous to softly pilose, the margins ± cartilaginous. Inflorescence of 5–15 racemes, these 0.5–2 cm. long, short and compact, bearing the spikelets in 2 rows on a triquetrous rhachis beset with a few bristles. Spikelets 2–4.5 mm. long, ovate-elliptic, with a transverse fringe of pink or silver hairs above (rarely the fringe missing) otherwise pubescent, cuspidate to acuminate (rarely obtuse), without a stipe. Inferior glume 1/2 length of spikelet, subacute; superior glume obtuse to acuminate. Inferior lemma hollowed along the mid-nerve, sometimes obtuse in our area but usually tipped by a subulate awn-point up to 1 mm. long. Superior lemma striate, acute.
Type location:
South Africa.
Notes: Perennial tufted grass, up to 1 m. The leaves are basal, short with thickened serrated margins. The spikelets are densely covered in reddish hairs. See B. nigropedata for comparison.
Derivation of specific name: serrata: serrate, saw-toothed
Habitat: In rocky areas of sandy or loamy soil in grassland or deciduous woodland.
Altitude range: 600 - 1800 m
Flowering time:Oct - Mar
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in tropical and South Africa.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): B,N,W,C,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces): N,Lk,W
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10.

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 6.

Clayton, W.D. (1989). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3) Page 71.

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 131.

Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 32.

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 101.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 127.

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 132.

Van Oudtshoorn, F.P. (1992). Grasses of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 253. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Brachiaria serrata:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Brachiaria serrata
Flora of Malawi: Brachiaria serrata
Flora of Mozambique: Brachiaria serrata
Flora of Zimbabwe: Brachiaria serrata

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Brachiaria serrata
African Plant Database: Brachiaria serrata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Brachiaria serrata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Brachiaria serrata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Brachiaria serrata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Brachiaria serrata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Brachiaria serrata
JSTOR Plant Science: Brachiaria serrata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Brachiaria serrata
Plants of the World Online: Brachiaria serrata
Tropicos: Brachiaria serrata
Wikipedia: Brachiaria serrata


Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-24

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2024). Flora of Zambia: Species information: Brachiaria serrata.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=106930, retrieved 19 March 2024

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