Aristida congesta
Appearance
Tassel three-awn | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Genus: | Aristida |
Species: | A. congesta
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Binomial name | |
Aristida congesta Roem. & Schult.
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Aristida congesta (tassel three-awn, Afrikaans: Aapstertsteekgras) is a species of grass native to all provinces of South Africa as well as Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Mozambique. The SANBI Red List classifies it as "safe."[1]
SANBI mentions two subspecies:
Aristida congesta Roem. & Schult. subsp. congesta
Aristida congesta Roem. & Schult. subsp. barbicollis (Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Aristida_congesta%2C_bloeiwyse%2C_naby_Waterberg_Natuurpraal%2C_b.jpg/220px-Aristida_congesta%2C_bloeiwyse%2C_naby_Waterberg_Natuurpraal%2C_b.jpg)
It is a thick perennial tussock that grows 10–75 cm high. The leaves can be flat or folded. The plumes are 3–20 cm long. The spikelets have uneven husks. The upper portion is the widest, at 6.5–10 mm. It can be found on deciduous woodland on rocky slopes and weathered areas.[3]
Grazing
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Aristida_congesta_Roem._%26_Schult._subsp._congesta.jpg/220px-Aristida_congesta_Roem._%26_Schult._subsp._congesta.jpg)
It has little value for grazing except when young:
Header text | EIW | SWIW | LnregWIW |
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Grazing Response Index[4] | 1 | 1.3 | 1.04 |
References
[edit]- ^ "SANBI Red List entry". SANBI.
- ^ "Red List entry". SANBI.
- ^ "FAO". UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Archived from the original on 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
- ^ "P C V du Toit Objektiewe weidingsindekswaardes van Nama-Karoo plantegroei: grasse en bossies van die Karoo". Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute.