Running mountaingrass

Oplismenus compositus

Family: Poaceae Genus: Oplismenus Species: compositus

Synonyms: Oplismenus lanceolatus, Oplismenus patens var. yunnanensis, Orthopogon gonyrrhizus, Orthopogon setarius, Oplismenus patens var. angustifolius, Oplismenus formosanus, Oplismenus burmanni var. intermedius, Panicum bidentulum, Oplismenus compositus var. vittatus, Digitaria elatior, Panicum peninsularum, Orthopogon sylvaticus, Oplismenus compositus var. lasiorhachis, Panicum setarium, Oplismenus compositus f. glabratus, Andropogon undatus, Panicum longeracemosum, Oplismenus compositus var. intermedius, Hippagrostis composita, Panicum bidentatum, Urochloa aristata, Oplismenus thiebautii, Panicum parciflorum, Oplismenus compositus var. formosanus, Oplismenus compositus var. rariflorus, Panicum compositum var. fimbriusculum, Echinochloa lanceolata, Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius, Oplismenus jacquinii, Pollinia jacquinii, Oplismenus setarius f. sterilis, Oplismenus coreanus, Orthopogon remotus, Oplismenus decompositus, Oplismenus compositus subsp. patens, Oplismenus liebmannii, Panicum lanceolatum, Panicum certificandum, Oplismenus compositus var. patens, Oplismenus polliniifolius, Oplismenus junghuhnii, Oplismenus compositus var. setarius, Oplismenus pratensis, Oplismenus compositus var. submuticus, Panicum pratense, Oplismenus setarius, Oplismenus compositus var. sylvaticus, Orthopogon compositus, Hippagrostis setaria, Panicum sylvaticum, Oplismenus compositus f. vittatus, Pollinia undata, Digitaria composita, Panicum compositoproximum, Oplismenus indicus, Oplismenus rariflorus, Oplismenus hirtellus var. setarius, Oplismenus compositus f. pubescens, Panicum unguinosum, Oplismenus sylvaticus, Oplismenus compositus var. owatarii, Panicum undatum, Orthopogon junghuhnii, Oplismenus compositus var. angustifolius, Oplismenus elatior, Panicum gonyrrhizum, Orthopogon pratensis, Orthopogon longeracemosus, Oplismenus owatarii, Oplismenus patens

Running mountaingrass (en)

Gallery

Botanical Description

Oplismenus compositus, the running mountaingrass or basket grass, is a scrambling or trailing perennial grass in the family Poaceae (subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae). The slender, branching stems root readily at the lower nodes, allowing the plant to form open, decumbent mats over the floor of shaded habitats. Leaf blades are lance-shaped to ovate-acuminate, thin, with scattered hairs and a characteristic undulate (slightly wavy) surface. Loose, narrow paniculate inflorescences carry small awned spikelets bearing sticky awns that adhere to passing animals and clothing, assisting dispersal. The species is widespread across tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific, where it grows in moist shaded forest understorey, along streams, on rocky slopes and in clearings on a range of soils. Some variegated cultivars are grown as indoor ornamentals.

Native Region: Alabama, Andaman Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arkansas, Assam, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Brazil South, Burundi, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Christmas I., Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Florida, Georgia, Guatemala, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Jawa, Kazan-retto, Kenya, Korea, Laccadive Is., Laos, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maldives, Maluku, Mauritius, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, New South Wales, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., North Carolina, Northern Territory, Ogasawara-shoto, Oklahoma, Oman, Pakistan, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Réunion, Seychelles, Socotra, South Carolina, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Virginia, West Himalaya, Windward Is., Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

232056

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

Back to Herb Database