List of Poaceae of South Africa

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Poaceae or Gramineae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the order Poales, known as grasses. With around 780 genera and around 12,000 species, [1] the Poaceae is the fifth-largest plant family, following the Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, Fabaceae and Rubiaceae. [2]

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The Poaceae are the most economically important plant family, providing staple foods from domesticated cereal crops such as maize, wheat, rice, barley, and millet as well as feed for meat-producing animals. They provide, through direct human consumption, just over one-half (51%) of all dietary energy. Some members of the Poaceae are used as building materials (bamboo, thatch, and straw); others can provide a source of biofuel, primarily via the conversion of maize to ethanol. Grasses have stems that are hollow except at the nodes and narrow alternate leaves borne in two ranks. The lower part of each leaf encloses the stem, forming a leaf-sheath. The leaf grows from the base of the blade, an adaptation allowing it to cope with frequent grazing.

Grasslands such as savannah and prairie where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the Earth, excluding Greenland and Antarctica. [3] Grasses are also an important part of the vegetation in many other habitats, including wetlands, forests and tundra.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. [4] Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests. [5]

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)). [6]

206 genera are represented in the literature. [6] Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Achnatherum

Genus Achnatherum : [6]

Acrachne

Genus Acrachne : [6]

Acroceras

Genus Acroceras : [6]

Agrostis

Genus Agrostis : [6]

Aira

Genus Aira : [6]

Alloteropsis

Genus Alloteropsis : [6]

Alopecurus

Genus Alopecurus : [6]

Amelichloa

Genus Amelichloa : [6]

Ammophila

Genus Ammophila : [6]

Andropogon

Genus Andropogon : [6]

Anthephora

Genus Anthephora : [6]

Anthoxanthum

Genus Anthoxanthum : [6]

Aristida

Genus Aristida : [6]

Arrhenatherum

Genus Arrhenatherum : [6]

Arthratherum

Genus Arthratherum : [6]

Arthraxon

Genus Arthraxon : [6]

Arundinella

Genus Arundinella : [6]

Arundo

Genus Arundo : [6]

Avena

Genus Avena : [6]

Axonopus

Genus Axonopus : [6]

Bambusa

Genus Bambusa : [6]

Bewsia

Genus Bewsia : [6]

Bothriochloa

Genus Bothriochloa : [6]

Brachiaria

Genus Brachiaria : [6]

Brachychloa

Genus Brachychloa : [6]

Brachypodium

Genus Brachypodium : [6]

Briza

Genus Briza : [6]

Brizopyrum

Genus Brizopyrum : [6]

Bromus

Genus Bromus : [6]

Calamagrostis

Genus Calamagrostis : [6]

Capeochloa

Genus Capeochloa : [6]

Catalepis

Genus Catalepis : [6]

Catapodium

Genus Catapodium : [6]

Cenchrus

Genus Cenchrus : [6]

Centropodia

Genus Centropodia : [6]

Chaetobromus

Genus Chaetobromus : [6]

Chloris

Genus Chloris : [6]

Chrysopogon

Genus Chrysopogon : [6]

Cladoraphis

Genus Cladoraphis : [6]

Cleistachne

Genus Cleistachne : [6]

Coelachyrum

Genus Coelachyrum : [6]

Coelorachis

Genus Coelorachis : [6]

Coix

Genus Coix : [6]

Colpodium

Genus Colpodium : [6]

Cortaderia

Genus Cortaderia : [6]

Corynephorus

Genus Corynephorus : [6]

Craspedorhachis

Genus Craspedorhachis : [6]

Ctenium

Genus Ctenium : [6]

Cymbopogon

Genus Cymbopogon : [6]

Cynodon

Genus Cynodon : [6]

Cynosurus

Genus Cynosurus : [6]

Dactylis

Genus Dactylis : [6]

Dactyloctenium

Genus Dactyloctenium : [6]

Danthonia

Genus Danthonia : [6]

Danthoniopsis

Genus Danthoniopsis : [6]

Deschampsia

Genus Deschampsia : [6]

Desmazeria

Genus Desmazeria : [6]

Diandrochloa

Genus Diandrochloa : [6]

Dichanthium

Genus Dichanthium : [6]

Digitaria

Genus Digitaria : [6]

Diheteropogon

Genus Diheteropogon : [6]

Dinebra

Genus Dinebra : [6]

Diplachne

Genus Diplachne : [6]

Dregeochloa

Genus Dregeochloa : [6]

Echinochloa

Genus Echinochloa : [6]

Ehrharta

Genus Ehrharta : [6]

Eleusine

Genus Eleusine : [6]

Elionurus

Genus Elionurus : [6]

Elymandra

Genus Elymandra : [6]

Elymus

Genus Elymus : [6]

Elytrophorus

Genus Elytrophorus : [6]

Enneapogon

Genus Enneapogon : [6]

Enteropogon

Genus Enteropogon : [6]

Entolasia

Genus Entolasia : [6]

Eragrostis

Genus Eragrostis : [6]

Eriachne

Genus Eriachne : [6]

Eriochloa

Genus Eriochloa : [6]

Eriochrysis

Genus Eriochrysis : [6]

Eulalia

Genus Eulalia : [6]

Eustachys

Genus Eustachys : [6]

Festuca

Genus Festuca : [6]

Fingerhuthia

Genus Fingerhuthia : [6]

Gastridium

Genus Gastridium : [6]

Geochloa

Genus Geochloa : [6]

Glyceria

Genus Glyceria : [6]

Gymnothrix

Genus Gymnothrix : [6]

Hackelochloa

Genus Hackelochloa : [6]

Hainardia

Genus Hainardia : [6]

Harpochloa

Genus Harpochloa : [6]

Helictotrichon

Genus Helictotrichon : [6]

Hemarthria

Genus Hemarthria : [6]

Heteropogon

Genus Heteropogon : [6]

Holcus

Genus Holcus : [6]

Hordeum

Genus Hordeum : [6]

Hyparrhenia

Genus Hyparrhenia : [6]

Hyperthelia

Genus Hyperthelia : [6]

Imperata

Genus Imperata : [6]

Ischaemum

Genus Ischaemum : [6]

Karroochloa

Genus Karroochloa : [6]

Koeleria

Genus Koeleria : [6]

Lagurus

Genus Lagurus : [6]

Lamarckia

Genus Lamarckia : [6]

Lasiagrostis

Genus Lasiagrostis : [6]

Lasiochloa

Genus Lasiochloa : [6]

Leersia

Genus Leersia : [6]

Leptocarydion

Genus Leptocarydion : [6]

Leptochloa

Genus Leptochloa : [6]

Lepturus

Genus Lepturus : [6]

Leucophrys

Genus Leucophrys : [6]

Lolium

Genus Lolium : [6]

Lophacme

Genus Lophacme : [6]

Lophochloa

Genus Lophochloa : [6]

Loudetia

Genus Loudetia : [6]

Maltebrunia

Genus Maltebrunia : [6]

Megaloprotachne

Genus Megaloprotachne : [6]

Megastachya

Genus Megastachya : [6]

Melica

Genus Melica : [6]

Melinis

Genus Melinis : [6]

Merxmuellera

Genus Merxmuellera : [6]

Microchloa

Genus Microchloa : [6]

Microlaena

Genus Microlaena : [6]

Microstegium

Genus Microstegium : [6]

Miscanthus

Genus Miscanthus : [6]

Monocymbium

Genus Monocymbium : [6]

Mosdenia

Genus Mosdenia : [6]

Nassella

Genus Nassella : [6]

Nastus

Genus Nastus : [6]

Odontelytrum

Genus Odontelytrum : [6]

Odyssea

Genus Odyssea : [6]

Olyra

Genus Olyra : [6]

Oplismenus

Genus Oplismenus : [6]

Oropetium

Genus Oropetium : [6]

Oryza

Genus Oryza : [6]

Oxyrhachis

Genus Oxyrhachis : [6]

Oxytenanthera

Genus Oxytenanthera : [6]

Panicum

Genus Panicum : [6]

Parapholis

Genus Parapholis : [6]

Paspalum

Genus Paspalum : [6]

Pennisetum

Genus Pennisetum : [6]

Pentameris

Genus Pentameris : [6]

Pentaschistis

Genus Pentaschistis [6] (now included in Pentameris )

Periballia

Genus Periballia : [6]

Perotis

Genus Perotis : [6]

Petrina

Genus Petrina : [6]

Phacelurus

Genus Phacelurus : [6]

Phalaris

Genus Phalaris : [6]

Phragmites

Genus Phragmites : [6]

Poa

Genus Poa : [6]

Pogonarthria

Genus Pogonarthria : [6]

Polevansia

Genus Polevansia : [6]

Polypogon

Genus Polypogon : [6]

Prionanthium

Genus Prionanthium : [6]

Prosphytochloa

Genus Prosphytochloa : [6]

Pseudechinolaena

Genus Pseudechinolaena : [6]

Puccinellia

Genus Puccinellia : [6]

Rendlia

Genus Rendlia : [6]

Rhytachne

Genus Rhytachne : [6]

Rottboellia

Genus Rottboellia : [6]

Sacciolepis

Genus Sacciolepis : [6]

Sartidia

Genus Sartidia : [6]

Sasa

Genus Sasa : [6]

Schismus

Genus Schismus : [6]

Schizachyrium

Genus Schizachyrium : [6]

Schmidtia

Genus Schmidtia : [6]

Schoenefeldiella

Genus Schoenefeldiella : [6]

Sclerochloa

Genus Sclerochloa : [6]

Secale

Genus Secale : [6]

Sehima

Genus Sehima : [6]

Setaria

Genus Setaria : [6] (including Paspalidium)

Sorghastrum

Genus Sorghastrum : [6]

Sorghum

Genus Sorghum : [6]

Spartina

Genus Spartina : [6]

Sphenopus

Genus Sphenopus : [6]

Sporobolus

Genus Sporobolus : [6]

Steinchisma

Genus Steinchisma : [6]

Stenotaphrum

Genus Stenotaphrum : [6]

Stereochlaena

Genus Stereochlaena : [6]

Stiburus

Genus Stiburus : [6]

Stipa

Genus Stipa : [6]

Stipagrostis

Genus Stipagrostis : [6]

Streblochaete

Genus Streblochaete : [6]

Styppeiochloa

Genus Styppeiochloa : [6]

Tarigidia

Genus Tarigidia : [6]

Tenaxia

Genus Tenaxia : [6]

Tetrachne

Genus Tetrachne : [6]

Tetrapogon

Genus Tetrapogon : [6]

Thamnocalamus

Genus Thamnocalamus : [6]

Themeda

Genus Themeda : [6]

Thinopyrum

Genus Thinopyrum : [6]

Trachypogon

Genus Trachypogon : [6]

Tragus

Genus Tragus : [6]

Tribolium

Genus Tribolium : [6]

Tricholaena

Genus Tricholaena : [6]

Trichoneura

Genus Trichoneura : [6]

Trichopteryx

Genus Trichopteryx : [6]

Tripogon

Genus Tripogon : [6]

Triraphis

Genus Triraphis : [6]

Tristachya

Genus Tristachya : [6]

Urelytrum

Genus Urelytrum : [6]

Urochlaena

Genus Urochlaena : [6]

Urochloa

Genus Urochloa : [6]

Vetiveria

Genus Vetiveria : [6]

Vulpia

Genus Vulpia : [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Agrostis</i> Genus of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae

Agrostis is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass.

<i>Axonopus</i> Genus of grasses

Axonopus is a genus of plants in the grass family, known generally as carpet grass. They are native primarily to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas with one species in tropical Africa and another on Easter Island. They are sometimes rhizomatous and many are tolerant of periodic submersion.

Pentameris is a genus of plants in the grass family, native primarily to Africa, with a few species in Yemen and on certain islands in the Indian Ocean.

Pentameris pictigluma is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native to Cameroon in West Africa, Ethiopia to Tanzania in East Africa, and Yemen. It was first described by Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel in 1854 as Aira pictigluma.

References

  1. Christenhusz, M.J.M.; Byng, J.W. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa. 261 (3): 201–217. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 . Archived from the original on 29 July 2016.
  2. "Angiosperm Phylogeny Website". Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  3. Reynolds, S.G. "Grassland of the world". www.fao.org. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  4. Butler, Rhett A. (1 July 2019). "Total number of plant species by country". Mongabay. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  5. "Vegetation of South Africa". PlantZAfrica.com. SA National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 "species_checklist_20180710.csv". South African National Biodiversity Institute. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.