Heteropogon contortus (L.) Roem. & Schult.
Common Name : Spear grass
Family : Poaceae
HABIT |
A DENSELY TUFTED, GREGARIOUS, PERENNIAL GRASS; 30-150 CM LONG. |
STEMS |
STEMS SLENDER, ERECT OR
DECUMBENT BELOW WITH LEAFY AT THE BASE. |
LEAVES |
LEAF BLADES FLAT, LINEAR, RIGID, 4-30 CM LONG AND 0.2-0.5 CM
WIDE, APEX SHORTLY ACUMINATE, SPARSELY CILIATE TOWARDS THE BASE; BASAL
SHEATHS LATERALLY COMPRESSED, KEELED, GLABROUS; LIGULE SHORT, TRUNCATE. |
FLOWERS |
BORNE IN TERMINAL. SOLITARY,
SPIKED RACEMES, 3- 7.5 CM LONG, THE AWNS FORMING A TWISTED SPIRE AT THE TOP |
FRUITS |
SPIKELETS SESSILE, 0.5-0.8 CM
LONG INCLUDING THE CALLUS, CLOSELY IMBRICATING, LOWER ONES AWNLESS, MALE OR
NEUTER, UPPER ONES FEMALE, LONGAWNED, BEARDED WITH REDDISH-BROWN HAIRS. |