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Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin.
| Family Name: | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
| Synonyms: | Andropogon aciculatus Retz. |
| Common Name: | Love Grass, Temuchut, 竹节草 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Grass or Grass-like Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Pantropical |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Roots | Stolons are covered with imbricate scale-like old sheaths, sending up numerous sterile leafy shoots. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Sheaths 1-3cm long, the uppermost up to 6cm long, striate, sometimes purple-tinged, imbricate, sparsely pilose at thoat and along margins. |
| Stems | Culms 15-25cm tall, erect from a decumbent base. |
| Flowers | Panicles reddish purple, narrowly elliptic, 3-6 cm long, the branches 0.5-1.5 cm long, slender, stiffly ascending or appressed; spikelet clusters 6-8 mm long. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: The decoction of the root is used in China and Taiwan to treat poisonous snake bites. The 'seeds' are used in Indochina to expel intestinal roundworms. In Malaysia, the plant is burnt with lalang and the ashes swallowed as a remedy for rheumatism. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Moist Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Easy to Grow |
| Soil pH Range From | 5.1 |
| Soil pH Range To | 6.1 |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 516 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1812 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
