Oplismenus hirtellus

Basket grass
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Oplismenus
Species: O. hirtellus
Binomial name
Oplismenus hirtellus
(L.) P.Beauv.

Oplismenus hirtellus (commonly known as basket grass) is a flowering perennial plant from the Poaceae family that can be found on every continent in the world except Antarctica, growing mostly in coastal tropic and subtropic regions as well as tropical and subtropical islands such as Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia and Madagascar.[1]

Oplismenus hirtellus flowers are typically deep reddish or purple, whereas a sister species Oplismenus undulatifolius features white or very lightly colored flowers.

Description

The species flowering stalk is located 200 millimetres (7.9 in) above the leaves with the sticky purple colored awns. Flowers appear from December to June.[2] It grows 0.3 metres (1 ft 0 in) high and has some hairs which have 10-15 nerves on either side. The plant is whitish on the lower surface and is very narrow near midrib.

It is self-pollinated plant which seeds attract various animals and birds. The sticky seeds are easily distributed by animals and humans, easily adhering to fur and clothing.[2]

Distribution

In the United States

Oplismenus hirtellus is considered native to the southeastern United States,[3] growing in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma.[4]

There has been some disagreement about the taxonomic classification of non-native Oplismenus in several states:

A variegated variety of Oplismenus hirtellus

See also

References

  1. "Discover Life: Point Map of Oplismenus hirtellus". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P.Beauv.". Plantz Africa. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  3. "Oplismenus hirtellus (Retz.) P. Beauv. Burmann's basketgrass". USDA. PLANTS Profile. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  4. "Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P. Beauv. subsp. setarius (Lam.) Mez ex Ekman". National Plant Germplasm System. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  5. "Oplismenus hirtellus" (PDF). Weeds of Hawai‘i’s Pastures and Natural Areas. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa. Retrieved 7 January 2016. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  6. "Weed Risk Assessment for Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P. Beauv. subsp. undulatifolius (Ard.) U. Scholz (Poaceae)" (PDF). APHIS. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 7 January 2016.

Further reading


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