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Cymophyllus fraserianus

(Ethiopian Dog´s Tooth Grass)

Overview

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This genus often has digitate inflorescences with sessile spikelets in 2 rows ; the spikelets have one basal fertile floret and often a terminal , sterile or vestigial floret. Exserted yellowish stamens and reddish, feathery stigmas are clearly visible in the second photo. Pendulous stamens that produce copious , dry, thin-walled pollen and stigmas that are large and feathery are typical of wind pollinated plants and this is the most common mode of pollination among grasses.

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Kweekgras

Common Names in Danish:

Bermudagræs

Common Names in Dutch:

Handjesgras

Common Names in English:

African Bermudagrass, African Couch, African Dog-Tooth Grass, Bahama Grass, Bahamas Grass, Bermuda Grass, Bermudagrass, Chiendent Pied-De-Poule, Common Bermudagrass, Cynodon, Devil´s Grass, Devilgrass, Devils Grass, Dog´s Tooth Grass, Ethiopian Dog´s Tooth Grass, Ethiopian Dogstooth Grass, Fraser´s Sedge, Fraser's Cymophyllus, Fraser's Sedge, Frasers Sedge, Giant Bermuda Grass, Grama-Seda, Hariali Grass, Indian Doab, Magennis Dogstooth Grass, Magennis' Dogstooth Grass, Manienie, Motie Molulu, Nakuru Grass, Quick Grass, Scutch Grass, Star Grass, Wire Grass Cynodon Dactylon

Common Names in Finnish:

Varvasheinä

Common Names in French:

Chiendent, Chiendent Amélioré, Chiendent Dactyle, Chiendent Pied-De-Poule, Cynodon Dactyle, Grand Chiendent

Common Names in German:

Bermudagras, Hundszahngras

Common Names in Italian:

Gramigna Comune

Common Names in Japanese:

Baamyudaa Gurasu, Bamyudaa Gurasu, Gyougishiba

Common Names in Portuguese:

Capim-Bermuda (Brazil), Grama Bermuda, Grama-Seda

Common Names in Sanskrit:

Dhub, Doob

Common Names in Spanish:

Grama Común, Grama De España, Grama Rastrera, Hierba Bermuda, Hierba Fina, Pasto Bermuda, Zacate De Bermuda

Common Names in Swedish:

Bermudagräs, Hundtandsgräs

Common Names in Thai:

Ya Phaet, Ya Phraek

Description

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Family Cyperaceae

Herbs, annual or perennial , cespitose or not, rhizomatous or not, stoloniferous or not. Roots fibrous , principally adventitious. Stems (culms ) usually trigonous , occasionally terete , rarely compressed , usually solid, rarely hollow or septate . Leaves basal and/or cauline, alternate, usually 3-ranked, rarely 2-ranked or multi-ranked, bases forming cylindric sheaths enclosing stem, margins usually fused; junction of sheaths and blades often with adaxial flaps of tissue or fringes of hair (ligules) ; blades frequently absent from some basal leaves , rarely from cauline leaves, when present divergent or ascending , flat, folded, plicate , rolled, or terete, linear , venation parallel. Primary inflorescences (spikelets ) a shortened axis; glumaceous bracts (scales ) 1-many, spirally arranged , sometimes 2-ranked, usually appressed or ascending; scales usually all fertile , each subtending a single flower, sometimes proximal and/or distal scales empty; lateral spikes often with basal, usually empty, usually 2-keeled scale (prophyll) ; occasionally prophyll subtending and enclosing rachilla, bearing 1 pistillate , sometimes (0-) 3 staminate flowers and empty scales (Carex, Cymophyllus, and Kobresia) . Secondary inflorescences panicles, often modified to corymb, pseudoumbel, cyme (anthela), raceme , spike, or capitulum (head ), rarely single spike, usually subtended by foliaceous or, less frequently, glumaceous bracts; secondary inflorescences sometimes simulating spikelets (Carex, Cymophyllus, and Kobresia) . Flowers hypogynous, bisexual in most genera, unisexual in Scleria, Carex, Cymophyllus, and Kobresia; perianth absent or with (1-) 3-6(-30) bristles and/or scales, usually falling off with fruit; stamens usually (1-) 3, rarely more, usually distinct ; anthers basifixed ; pistils 1, 2-3(-4) -carpellate, fused, locule 1; style undivided or branches 2-3(-4) ; stigma sometimes papillate . Fruits achenes, usually trigonous or biconvex ; pericarps thin (except in Scleria) . Seeds 1; testa thin, free from pericarp; embryo basal; endosperm abundant. x = 5-ca. 100.

Genera ca. 100, species ca. 5000 (27 genera, 843 species in the flora ) : worldwide.

No consensus exists regarding the number of genera and the overall relationships of genera within Cyperaceae. The most recent account of the family (P. Goetghebeur 1998) recognized 104 genera distributed among 4 subfamilies and 14 tribes . That arrangement differs somewhat from that of J. Bruhl (1995) . With one minor exception the arrangement of the family here follows that of Goetghebeur.

The family is characterized by the occurrence of a number of unusual cytological features including: (1) chromosomes with diffuse centromeres , (2) post-reductional meiosis, and (3) pollen grains formed from tetrads in which 3 of the 4 microspores fail to develop. The first two features are found in at least some Juncaceae and are unique to the two families. Juncaceae also have pollen in tetrads, but in that family all four microspores produce pollen grains. Some species in some genera of Cyperaceae (particularly Eleocharis) possess chromosomes with localized centromeres (S. S. Bir et al. 1993) . The wide range of chromosome numbers found in Cyperaceae is largely because of agmatoploidy; polyploidy has been hypothesized for some genera, especially Eleocharis, although polyploidy has not been demonstrated unequivocally.

Because of morphologic similarities in vegetative and inflorescence characters, the family has commonly been associated with Poaceae. Cytological features discussed above clearly indicate that to be a superficial similarity . Data from rbcL studies also support the view that Cyperaceae and Poaceae are not closely related (M. R. Duvall et al. 1993b; G. M. Plunkett et al. 1995) ; they do support the concept of close relationship between Cyperaceae and Juncaceae.

For most families of flowering plants the phenological data given are flowering times. Because most Cyperaceae cannot be reliably identified when in flower, in this volume fruiting time is given for all species by season , sometimes qualified by early, mid, or late, or by months. The fruiting time has been interpreted broadly to include the period when the fruit is more or less fully formed but not yet ripe . The fruiting period provided covers the entire range of the taxon . Quite a difference between fruiting periods in different parts of the range of the species may well occur, especially for widespread species and species with extensive elevation range.

For a recent, comprehensive review of the economic importance of Cyperaceae, see D. A. Simpson and C. A. Inglis (2001) .[1]

Genus Cymophyllus

Herbs, perennial , cespitose, evergreen . Culms compressed or terete . Leaves basal, bladeless; proximal sheaths 4-6, whitish to straw colored , disintegrating at maturity, distal 1(-2, rarely), blade flat, formed from open, elongated sheath, without ligule or evident midvein , usually 2-5 cm wide. Inflorescences terminal , single spike; bracts spirally arranged , each subtending flower, scalelike. Spikelets 1-flowered; scales 0-1. Flowers unisexual ; staminate flowers without scales; pistillate flowers with 1 scale enclosing flower (perigynium), open only at apex; perianth absent; stamens 3; styles deciduous, linear , 3-fid. Achenes sharply trigonous .

Species 1: e North America.[2]

Physical Description

Species Cymophyllus fraserianus

Culms 20-40 cm. Leaves strap-shaped , gradually tapered to base that wraps around stem, finely evenly 50-90-veined, 20-60 × 1.7-5 cm, margin finely undulate , base gradually tapered, apex broadly acute-rounded, ciliate-serrulate. Inflorescences a single androgynous spike, 1.4-2.5 × 1.1-1.5 cm; pistillate portion ± globose at maturity. Scales translucent-white. Perigynia white, becoming pale greenish at maturity, ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, ± inflated , circular to flattened in cross section , 4.5-6.7 × 2.2-3 mm, membranaceous ; beak short, orifice entire. Stigmas thick, stiff, finely papillose . Achenes dark brown, elliptic to circular or broadly obovate in outline, 2.4-3.2 × 1.6-2.5 mm. Fruiting early summer (May-Jun). [source]

The broad, straplike leaf of Cymophyllus, apparently lacking a midvein , sheath , and ligule and with finely undulate margins, is unique in Cyperaceae. This southern Appalachian endemic (R. B . Clarkson 1962) is presumably a relict , sharing the same ancestry as Carex, and has evolved the flat, blade of its leaf from an expanded bladeless sheath (A. A. Reznicek 1989). Both the morphology of the inflorescence and preliminary observations (W. W. Thomas 1984b) suggest the plant is entomophilous. Some individuals in populations are protandrous, and others are protogynous, but details of the reproductive biology of this species are unknown. Cymophyllus is a striking plant with its broad, evergreen leaves and gleaming white inflorescences, and it is sometimes cultivated in woodland wildflower gardens. [source]

Habit: Graminoid • Growth Form: Stoloniferous • Shape and Orientation: Prostrate

Flowers: Bloom Period: April, May, June. • Flower Color: near white, white • Flower Conspicuous: No

Seeds: Seed Spread Rate: None • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No • Cold Stratification Required: No

Foliage: Foliage Color: Green • Foliage Porosity Summer: Moderate • Foliage Porosity Winter: Porous • Foliage Texture: Medium • Fall Conspicuous: No • Leaf Retention: No

Size/Age/Growth

Active Growth Period: Summer • Growth Rate: Rapid • After Harvest Regrowth Rate: Rapid • Mature Height (feet): 1.3 • Size: 12-18" tall. • Vegetative Spread Rate: Rapid • Lifespan: Lifespan

Habitat

Mesic to wet- mesic, shaded slopes and banks in rich, often rocky deciduous, mixed, or hemlock forests , local, often abundant; 400-1300 m [3].

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 5,271 meters (0 to 17,293 feet).[4]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Perennial • Coppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: No • Propagated by Container: No • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: No • Propagated by Seed: No • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: Yes • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: Space 12-15" apart.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: High • Salinity Tolerance: Medium • CaCO3 Tolerance: Low • Minimum pH: 5.5 • Maximum pH: 8.0 • Fertility Requirement: High

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Partial to Full Shade. • Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High • Minimum Precipitation: 36 • Maximum Precipitation: 55 • Moisture Use: Medium

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): 12 • Minimum Frost Free Days: 190 • Cold Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. C. fraseri Andrews
  2. Carex fraseri Andr.
  3. Carex fraseriana Ker-Gawl.
  4. Carex fraserianus Ker Gawler, Bot. Mag. 34: Plate 1391. 1811
  5. Cymophyllus fraseri (Andr.) Mackenzie Ex Britt.
  6. Cymophyllus fraseri (Andrews) Mackenzie

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 05-Apr-2001

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 07-Oct-1996

Publishing author : Ker Gawl. Publication : Bot. Mag. 34: t. 1391 1811 Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Place of publication: Rhodora 93:138. 1991

Name verified on 16-Nov-1999 by ARS Systematic Botanists.

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Cymophyllus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 2 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

C. fraseri · C. fraserianus (Ethiopian Dog´s Tooth Grass)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 28, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Peter W. Ball, A. A. Reznicek, David F. Murray "Cyperaceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 23 Page 3, 4, 192, 243, 252. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. A. A. Reznicek "Cymophyllus". in Flora of North America Vol. 23 Page 3, 5, 255, 257, 573. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. "Cymophyllus". in Flora of North America Vol. 23 Page 570, 573. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  4. Mean = 276.990 meters (908.760 feet), Standard Deviation = 634.400 based on 2,910 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/2/2009