Back
Chloris barbata Sw.
| Family Name: | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
| Synonyms: | Andropogon barbatus L. nom. illeg., Chloris inflata Link, Chloris longifolia Steud., Chloris paraguaiensis Steud., Chloris rufescens Steud. nom. illeg. |
| Common Name: | Plush Grass, Swollen Windmill Grass, Swollen Fingergrass, Purpletop Chloris |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Grass or Grass-like Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Grassy |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Disturbed Area / Open Ground, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an erect, annual grass, up to 50 - 90 cm tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are smooth and linear, reaching 10 - 20 cm long and 1 - 6 mm wide. The leaf sheaths are flatten and membraneous with a minute ligule (projection at the top of the leaf sheath). The leaves are arranged distichously (alternately in two ranks) along the culms. |
| Stems | The culms (aboveground stems of grasses and grass-like monocots) are erect, up to 50 - 90 cm. The culms are occasionally decumbent (lying on the ground, but with the distal end upright), rooting at the nodes. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is a panicle of 7-17 spikes, each 4 - 7.5 cm long and 3 - 4 mm wide, with spikelets arranged in two rows. Each spikelets are tinged with purple and made of 3 - 4 florets, consisting of heavily reduced petals and sepals, anthers, and stigmas. The first lemma (the outermost of two bracts enclosing a grass floret) has a subapical tuft of long hairs. |
| Fruit | The fruit is a caryopsis (a type of dry, indehiscent fruit, commonly known as a grain). |
| Habitat | It can be found in disturbed, dry, sandy sites along roads, swamy land, dunes and grassland. It thrives on saline or alkaline soil. |
| Etymology | The genus Chloris is named after Chloris, the Greek goddess of spring and new growth, generally used to refer to the pale green colour. The specific epithet barbatus means "bearded'. referring to the long hairs on the 1st pair of lemma. |
Landscaping Features
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Invasive / Potentially Invasive |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Alkaline high pH Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Ciliate / Hairy |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.0 (Turfgrass) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Culm |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Green, Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle, Spike, Spikelet / Compound Spike |
| Ovary Position | Superior / Hypogynous |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Caryopsis / Grain |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | Veldkamp, J.F., Duistermaat, H., Wong, K.M., & Middleton, D.J. (2019). Poaceae (Gramineae). Flora of Singapore, Volume 7. Singapore: National Parks Board. pp. 219-501. |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30745 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5070 |
| 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. |