Trachypogon spicatus

Family: Poaceae Genus: Trachypogon Species: spicatus

Synonyms: Andropogon montufarii, Andropogon digitatus, Andropogon angustifolius, Trachypogon montufarii var. pauciflorus, Trachypogon polymorphus var. bolivianus, Trachypogon preslii, Trachypogon polymorphus var. karwinskyi, Trachypogon polymorphus var. truncatus, Trachypogon polymorphus subvar. mollis, Trachypogon montufarii var. pilosus, Heteropogon truncatus, Trachypogon plumosus var. montufarii, Trachypogon karwinskyi, Andropogon ligularis, Trachypogon glaucescens, Trachypogon polymorphus, Trachypogon polymorphus var. ligularis, Trachypogon polymorphus var. dissolutus, Trachypogon polymorphus var. montufarii, Trachypogon dissolutus, Trachypogon planifolius, Trachypogon mayaensis, Trachypogon thollonii, Trachypogon dactyloides, Trachypogon ramosus, Trachypogon secundus, Andropogon mollis, Trachypogon mollis, Stipa spicata, Andropogon plumosus, Sorghum vestitum, Trachypogon capensis, Trachypogon palmeri, Trachypogon montufarii var. mollis, Andropogon dactyloides, Andropogon vestitus, Andropogon spicatus, Andropogon megapotamicus, Andropogon laxiflorus, Andropogon stipoides, Andropogon truncatus, Andropogon canescens, Trachypogon gouinii, Heteropogon secundus, Andropogon canus, Trachypogon polymorphus var. canescens, Trachypogon polymorphus var. gouinii, Trachypogon polymorphus subvar. dactyloides, Trachypogon polymorphus subvar. secundus, Trachypogon plumosus subvar. secundus, Andropogon dissolutus, Milium strictum, Trachypogon gracilis var. ciliatus, Trachypogon densus, Sorghum plumosum, Trachypogon polymorphus var. thollonii, Trachypogon polymorphus subvar. gracilis, Trachypogon capensis subvar. mollis, Andropogon tortus, Trachypogon violaceus, Trachypogon polymorphus var. plumosus, Andropogon stenophyllus, Trachypogon durus, Trachypogon plumosus, Trachypogon preslii var. secundus, Trachypogon polymorphus subvar. capensis, Trachypogon montufarii, Trachypogon muelleri, Trachypogon truncatus, Trachypogon rigidifolius, Andropogon fundaensis, Trachypogon stenophyllus, Andropogon trichospirus, Trachypogon montufarii var. grandiflorus, Trachypogon plumosus var. secundus, Trachypogon gracilis var. hirtus, Trachypogon canescens, Trachypogon capensis subvar. montufarii, Trachypogon parviflorus, Trachypogon micans, Trachypogon montufarii var. bolivianus, Heteropogon stipoides, Heteropogon megapotamicus, Trachypogon ligularis, Trachypogon gracilis, Trachypogon involutus, Trachypogon angustifolius

Botanical Description

Trachypogon spicatus is a tufted perennial grass in the Poaceae family with a broad pantropical distribution spanning the savannas of tropical Africa, the neotropics, and tropical Asia. Plants form erect tussocks 50 to 150 centimetres tall arising from short, knotty rhizomes, with narrow, flat to inrolled leaves clothed in scattered tubercle-based hairs. The inflorescence is a solitary or paired terminal raceme bearing alternating sessile and pedicellate spikelets along a tough rachis; the sessile, fertile spikelets carry long, plumose, geniculate awns up to several centimetres in length that aid in wind dispersal. Trachypogon is a characteristic dominant of fire-maintained savannas on nutrient-poor, well-drained soils and tolerates seasonal drought through dormancy of the basal crown. Reproduction is by seed and by tillering.

Native Region: Angola, Argentina Northeast, Arizona, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Caprivi Strip, Central African Repu, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Free State, French Guiana, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mozambique, Namibia, New Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Texas, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

236153

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.

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