Heteropogon melanocarpus (Elliott) Benth.

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Photo: Meg Coates Palgrave
Next to the N1 hear the Catapu entrance

Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes Mt Bunga, northwestern Gorongosa National Park.

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Synonyms:	Andropogon melanocarpus Elliott Andropogon polystictus Hochst. ex Steud. Heteropogon polystictus (Hochst. ex Steud.) Hochst.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Robust, erect annual with culms up to 250 cm, often with stilt roots at the base for support. Leaves flat, up to 50 cm × 10 mm, gradually pointed at the apex. Racemes numerous, 3–6 cm long, emerging from the side of the spatheole, together forming a large false panicle. Sessile spikelets 10–11 mm long (including a sharply pointed and barbate callus c. 4 mm long); inferior glume elliptic-oblong, dark brown, densely bristly hairy; awn 7–12 cm long, pubescent. Pedicelled spikelets 15–25 mm long; inferior glume light green, herbaceous, hairless, with a median line of depressed glands running along its length, long-pointed at the apex; callus 2–3 mm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	melanocarpus: with black fruit.
Habitat:	In deciduous bushland and wooded grassland, abandoned cultivation and along tracks and roads.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Tropical Africa, through Arabia to India.
Botswana distribution:	N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 4 January 2018
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20. Cope, T.A. (2002). Poaceae Flora Zambesiaca 10(4) Pages 145 - 146. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 135. Jackson, G. & Wiehe, P.O. (1958). An Annotated Check List of Nyasaland Grasses The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland Page 43. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 105. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 131. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 138.

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Flora of Caprivi: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Flora of Malawi: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Flora of Mozambique: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Flora of Zambia: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Heteropogon melanocarpus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Heteropogon melanocarpus
African Plant Database: Heteropogon melanocarpus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Heteropogon melanocarpus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Heteropogon melanocarpus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Heteropogon melanocarpus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Heteropogon melanocarpus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Heteropogon melanocarpus
JSTOR Plant Science: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Plants of the World Online: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Tropicos: Heteropogon melanocarpus
Wikipedia: Heteropogon melanocarpus