Spermatophyta: Monocotyledonae: Poales

Poaceae - Grass family

Graminae

Bennett, K.E. (1980) Keys to Zimbabwean grass species. Kirkia 11(2) 169-286

Clayton, W.D. (1970) Poaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Part 1

Clayton, W.D. (1989) Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(3)

Clayton, W.D. & Renvoize, S.A. (1982) Poaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Part 3

Clayton, W.D. & Renvoize, S.A. (1986) Genera Graminum. Grasses of the World. HMSO, London

Clayton, W.D. et al. (1974) Poaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Part 2

Cope, T.A. (1999) Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(2)

Cope, T.A. (2002) Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(4)

Gibbs Russell, G.E. et al. (1990) Grasses of Southern Africa. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria

Launert, E. (1971) Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(1)

Description of the family

Annual or perennial herbs, rarely woody, often with rhizomes or stolons. Culms usually cylindric, usually hollow but solid at the nodes. Leaves: alternate, 2-ranked, simple, consisting of sheath, ligule and lamina; sheath surrounding the stem, usually open; ligule usually present at junction of sheath and lamina, membranous, a row of hairs or 0; lamina linear to filiform, rarely lanceolate or ovate. Inflorescence consisting of numerous spikelets arranged in a spike, raceme or panicle. The basic unit of the inflorescence is the spikelet, consisting of a number of florets arranged distichously along an axis (rhachilla). At the base of the spikelet are 2 (rarely 0, 1 or more than 2) empty bracts (glumes). Each floret is enclosed within an outer bract (lemma) and an inner bracteole (palea). The palea is usually membranous and 2-keeled, the lemma is usually tougher and often awned. The lemma, palea and flowering parts are together called the floret. Flowers usually bisexual, but sometimes unisexual. Perianth represented by 2(–3) minute hyaline fleshy scales (lodicules). The base of the spikelet or floret may have a horny prolongation downwards (callus). Stamens (1-)3(-6); anthers versatile. Ovary superior, 1-locular with 1 ovule often attached to the adaxial side of the loculus, to a point or line visible in fruit as the hilum. Styles (1-)2(-3), generally with plumose stigmas. Fruit 1-seeded, usually a caryopsis, rarely with seed free from the pericarp.

Worldwide: 668 genera and 9,500 species, cosmopolitan, but especially tropical and northern temperate sub-arid areas.

Burundi: 97 genera and 313 taxa.

Insects associated with this family:

Acraea johnstoni (Johnston's acraea)
Bicyclus safitza (Common bush brown)
Bicyclus safitza (Common bush brown (dry season form))
Borbo borbonica (Olive-haired swift)
Melanitis leda (Common evening brown, Twilight brown)
Utetheisa pulchella (Crimson-speckled footman)
Ypthimomorpha itonia (Marsh ringlet)
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Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Acritochaete Pilg.Description
Acroceras StapfDescription
Agrostis L.Description
Aira L.Description
Alloteropsis C. PreslDescription
Andropogon L.Description
Andropterum StapfDescription
Anthephora Schreb.Description
Aristida L.Description
Arthraxon P. Beauv.Description
Arundinella RaddiDescription
Avena L.Description
Axonopus P. Beauv.Description
Bambusa Schreb.Description
Bothriochloa KuntzeDescription
Brachiaria (Trin.) Griseb.Description
Brachypodium P. Beauv.Description
Briza L.Description
Bromus L.Description
Cenchrus L.Description
Chasmopodium StapfDescription
Chloris Sw.Description
Chrysochloa SwallenDescription
Cleistachne Benth.Description
Coelachne R. Br.Description
Coelorachis Brongn.Description
Coix L.Description
Ctenium Panz.Description
Cymbopogon Spreng.Description
Cynodon Rich.Description
Dactyloctenium Willd.Description
Digitaria HallerDescription
Diheteropogon (Hack.) StapfDescription
Dinebra Jacq.Description
Echinochloa P. Beauv.Description
Eleusine Gaertn.Description
Elionurus Kunth ex Willd.Description
Eragrostis WolfDescription
Eriochloa KunthDescription
Eriochrysis P. Beauv.Description
Euclasta Franch.Description
Eulalia KunthDescription
Exotheca AnderssonDescription
Festuca L.Description
Gilgiochloa Pilg.Description
Glyceria R.Br.
Hackelochloa KuntzeDescription
Harpachne Hochst. ex A. Rich.Description
Hemarthria R.Br.Description
Heteranthoecia StapfDescription
Heteropogon Pers.Description
Hubbardochloa AuquierDescription
Hyparrhenia Fourn.Description
Imperata CirilloDescription
Isachne R. Br.Description
Ischaemum L.Description
Leersia Sw.Description
Leptocarydion StapfDescription
Leptochloa P. Beauv.Description
Loudetia Steud.Description
Melinis P. Beauv.Description
Microchloa R.Br.Description
Miscanthus AnderssonDescription
Monocymbium StapfDescription
Olyra L.Description
Oplismenus P. Beauv.Description
Oreobambos K.Schum.Description
Oryza L.Description
Oxytenanthera MunroDescription
Panicum L.Description
Paspalum L.Description
Perotis AitonDescription
Phragmites Adans.Description
Poa L.Description
Poecilostachys Hack.Description
Pogonarthria StapfDescription
Polypogon Desf.Description
Pseudechinolaena StapfDescription
Rhytachne Desv. ex Ham.Description
Rottboellia L.f.Description
Sacciolepis NashDescription
Schizachyrium NeesDescription
Setaria P. Beauv.Description
Shibataea Makino ex Nakai
Sorghastrum NashDescription
Sorghum MoenchDescription
Sporobolus R. Br.Description
Steinchisma Raf.
Themeda Forssk.Description
Trachypogon NeesDescription
Tragus HallerDescription
Trichopteryx NeesDescription
Trisetopsis Röser & Wölk, A.Description
Tristachya NeesDescription
Urelytrum Hack.Description
Urochloa P. Beauv.Description
Vossia Wall. & Griff.Description

Other sources of information about Poaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Poaceae
Flora of Botswana: cultivated Poaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Poaceae
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Poaceae
Flora of the DRC: Poaceae
Flora of Malawi: Poaceae
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Poaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Poaceae
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Poaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Poaceae
Flora of Zambia: Poaceae
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Poaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Poaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Poaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Poaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Poaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Poaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Poaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Poaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Poaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Poaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Poaceae
Wikipedia: Poaceae
Plants of the World Online: Poaceae
Tropicos: Poaceae





Flora of Burundi: Family page: Poaceae.
https://www.burundiflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=177, retrieved 9 November 2024

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