| Synonyms: |
Ctenium concinnum var. minus Pilg. Ctenium minus (Pilg.) Clayton Ctenium nubicum var. somalense Chiov. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Caespitose perennial up to 100 cm tall; lowermost leaf sheaths breaking up into a dense mat of fibres; leaf laminas 9–30 cm × up to 2 mm, usually involute, rarely flat. Raceme 3–7(9) cm long, usually coiled into an arc or flat spiral, barbate at the base.Superior glume 4.4–7.2 mm long; lowermost lemma 1.7–2.6 mm long, oblong-elliptic, ciliate on the nerves and keel, glabrous to sparsely pubescent on the back, awned from just below the cuspidate apex; 2nd lemma 2.5–3 mm long, lanceolate, ciliate on the nerves and keel, glabrous to sparsely pubescent on the back, produced onto an oblong tongue 0.5–1 mm long above the insertion of the awn; fertile lemma 2.7–3.5 mm long, ovate, long-ciliate on the marginal nerves with hairs c. 2 mm long, glabrous on the back, with an awn 3.5–5 mm long. |
| Type location: |
Ethiopia |
| Notes: | This species may be conspecific with Ctenium concinnum. |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | On rocky hillsides and in sandy plateau grassland. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Madagascar, east tropical Africa from the Sudan southwards to DR Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
| FTEA divisions: | |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| 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 342. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 18. Cope, T.A. (1999). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(2) Pages 227 - 228. (Includes a picture). Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22 SANBI, Pretoria Page 197. 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. Troupin, G. & Maquet, P. (1988). Poaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume IV Page 221. (Includes a picture). |