Code
SPZPY
Growth form
grass
Biological cycle
vivacious
Habitat
terrestrial
Sporobolus pyramidalis P.Beauv.
synonym | Agrostis extensa Schumach. & Thonn. |
synonym | Agrostis indica Forssk., nom. illeg. |
synonym | Agrostis owarensis Schult., nom. superfl. |
synonym | Sporobolus hypseloteros Chiov. |
synonym | Sporobolus indicus f. pyramidalis (P.Beauv.) Peter |
synonym | Sporobolus indicus var. pyramidalis (P.Beauv.) Veldkamp |
synonym | Sporobolus indicus var. saxicola Sosef & Ngok |
synonym | Sporobolus jacquemontii Kunth |
synonym | Sporobolus pyramidalis var. jacquemontii (Kunth) Jovet & Guédès |
synonym | Sporobolus rueppellianus Fresen. |
synonym | Sporobolus wombaliensis Vanderyst, pro syn. |
synonym | Vilfa jacquemontii (Kunth) Trin. |
synonym | Vilfa pyramidalis (P.Beauv.) Trin. ex Steud. |
synonym | Vilfa ruppelliana (Fresen.) Steud. |
No Data |
Global description
Sporobolus pyramidalis is a dense tufted grass, with linear leaves that are narrow and convoluted. The ligule is membrano-ciliated and very reduced. The inflorescence is a long panicle with many erect to spreading branches. Spikelets are solitary, grouped along short branches. They are spindle-shaped, with a reduced lower glume, a short upper glume and a single flower. The grain is free of obovoid form.
Seedling
The seedling is rarely observable because it is a vivacious species that develops into a tuft. It loses its leaves during the dry season, leaving only dry, non-fibrous stems and leaves. At the beginning of the rainy season, new leaves reappear at the base of the tuft. They are narrow, 5 to 10 cm long and 3 mm wide, with convoluted limb and rolled prefoliation. The sheath is finely ciliated on the margin. The ligule is membrano-ciliated and very reduced. The blade is glabrous, slightly scabrous on the margin.
General habit
The plant is tufted, dense. The axes are not branched and are interconnected by very short rhizomes. The plant is 30 to 160 cm tall.
Underground system
The roots are fasciculate.
Culm
The culm is cylindrical and glabrous, with a diameter of 2 to 5 mm. The nodes are glabrous and dark in color.
Leaf
The leaves are alternate. The sheath is glabrous, finely ciliated on the margin. It has a rounded hull. The ligule is membrano-ciliate, very reduced, high 0.3 mm. The lamina is linear, with a long pointed tip at the top. It is erect and usually convoluted or flat. It is 20 to 50 cm long and 3 to 10 mm wide. The margin is finely scabrous and both sides are glabrous.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is a panicle 10 to 40 cm long and consists of many upright to spreading racemes arranged along the main axis but not in whorls. The branches of the base are 5 to 10 cm long. The spikelets are solitary, grouped by 2 to 10 along short secondary branches applied to the primary branches.
Spikelet
Spikelets are borne by a short pedicel of 0.3 mm. They are fusiform, 1.7 to 2 mm long. The lower glume is 0.2-0.6 mm long. The upper glume is 0,5-0,8 mm long, rounded at the apex and is less than a third of the length of the spikelet. Its dorsal rib is finely scabrous. The lemma and palea are acute, 1.5 mm long.
Fruit
The grain is obovoid, 0.8 to 1 mm long. It is free.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Mayotte : Sporobolus pyramidalis flowers rom March to May and fruits from May to June.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Sporobolus pyramidalis is a vivacious grass. It multiplies mainly vegetatively, by issuing short rhizomes from which new axes develop within the same tuft. Seed reproduction is also possible, but germination is rare.
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Characters to distinguish some Sporobolus spp.
Size | Inflorescence | Branches | Spikelet | Glumes | Species |
90-160 cm | Spike-like with spreading branches | 5-10 cm | 1,7-2 mm |
Subequal |
Sporobolus pyramidalis |
30-100 cm | Spike-like, narrow with appressed branches | 1-2 cm | 1,8-2 mm |
Slightly different |
Sporobolus indicus |
30-110 cm | Spike-like, narrow with appressed branches | 1-2 cm | 2,1-2,8 mm |
Very different |
Sporobolus africanus |
10-60 cm | Diffuse panicle | 1-1,5 mm | Subequal Gl inf 0,4-0,6 mm Gl sup 0,6-1 mm 1/2 < Gl sup < L spikelet |
Sporobolus festivus |
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Sporobolus pyramidalis is close to S. africanus from which it is distinguished by its spiciform inflorescence with spreading racemes.
S. pyramidalis: Upper glume obtuse or truncated at the top, measuring 1/3 of the length of the spikelet. Spikelet 1.5-2 mm long. Branches of the basal part 3-15 cm long, ascending or spreading.
S. africanus: Upper glume acute at the tip, 1/2 to 2/3 of the length of the spikelet. Spikelet 2-3 mm long. Branches of the basal part 1 to 3 cm long, applied along the rachis.
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Northern Cameroon: Sporobolus pyramidalis is a species that develops from the Sahelo-Sudanian regions to the Guinean regions. It grows in degraded and overgrazed savannahs and along the slopes. It is also a weed, though infrequent, in recently cultivated plots. This species is also used in mountain areas to channel runoff water on plots and prevent erosion. In intensive cropping systems, it disappears after a few years of consecutive cultivation, especially when the cultural operations are numerous (plowing, weeding, hilling).
Mayotte: Sporobolus pyramidalis is a native species, rather rare, which grows in wetlands in particular in the alluvial plains like in Dapani or Tsararano and is also present in the agricultural environments like pastures.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Origin
Sporobolus pyramidalis is native to America and tropical Africa, the Indian Ocean islands (Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion) and the Arabian Peninsula.
Worldwide distribution
Sporobolus pyramidalis has been introduced into Burma and Australia.
Attributions | Wiktrop |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Local harmfulness
Northern Cameroon: Sporobolus pyramidalis is an infrequent weed in recently cultivated plots after clearing. It disappears rapidly in intensive cropping systems because of repeated tillage.
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. III part. 2. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 574p.
- Ivens G. W., 1989. East African Weeds and Their Control. Oxford University Press, Nairobi, Kenya, 289p.
- Stanfield D.P., 1970. The flora of Nigeria, Grasses. Stanfield and Lowe ed., Ibadan University Press, Ibadan, Nigeria, 118p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Vanden Berghen C., 1983. Matériaux pour une flore de la végétation herbacée de la Casamance occidentale, Sénégal, Fascicule 2, Gramineae. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, 66p.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Zon van der A.P.M., 1992. Graminées du Cameroun, Vol. II, Flore. Wageningen Agric. Univ. Papers 92 - 1, Wageningen, 557p.
- Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V. & Herberger J. P., 1977. The World's Worst Weeds : Distribution and Biologie. East-West Center, University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, 609p.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 687 p.
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:422898-1
- Hutchinson J., Dalziel J. M., Keay R. W. J. & Hepper F. N., 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. III part. 2. 2ème éd. The Whitefriars Press ed., London & Tonbridge, 574p.
- Ivens G. W., 1989. East African Weeds and Their Control. Oxford University Press, Nairobi, Kenya, 289p.
- Stanfield D.P., 1970. The flora of Nigeria, Grasses. Stanfield and Lowe ed., Ibadan University Press, Ibadan, Nigeria, 118p.
- Berhaut J., 1967. Flore du Sénégal. 2ème éd. Clairafrique éd., Dakar, Sénégal, 485p.
- Le Bourgeois Th., 1993. Les mauvaises herbes dans la rotation cotonnière au Nord-Cameroun (Afrique) - Amplitude d'habitat et degré d'infestation - Cycle de développement. Thèse USTL Montpellier II, Montpellier, France, 241p.
- Vanden Berghen C., 1983. Matériaux pour une flore de la végétation herbacée de la Casamance occidentale, Sénégal, Fascicule 2, Gramineae. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, 66p.
- Le Bourgeois, T. and H. Merlier (1995). Adventrop - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahélienne. Montpellier, France, Cirad.
- Zon van der A.P.M., 1992. Graminées du Cameroun, Vol. II, Flore. Wageningen Agric. Univ. Papers 92 - 1, Wageningen, 557p.
- Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V. & Herberger J. P., 1977. The World's Worst Weeds : Distribution and Biologie. East-West Center, University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, 609p.
- Barthelat, F. 2019. La Flore illustrée de Mayotte. Meze, Paris, France, Collection Inventaires et Biodiversité, Biotope – Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. 687 p.
- https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:422898-1
Etude floristique et phytoécologique des adventices des complexes sucriers de Ferké 1 et 2, de Borotou-Koro et de Zuenoula, en Côte d'Ivoire
Herbarium pictures ReCOLNAT: https://explore.recolnat.org/search/botanique/simplequery=Sporobolus%2520pyramidalis
Attributions | |
Contributors | |
Status | UNDER_CREATION |
Licenses | CC_BY |
References |
Root | Root |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Phylum | Tracheophyta |
Class | Liliopsida |
Order | Poales |
Family | Poaceae |
Genus | Sporobolus |
Species | Sporobolus pyramidalis P.Beauv. |