Ixophorus is a genus of Latin American plants in the grass family. The only recognized species is Ixophorus unisetus.[2][3][4] Some authors have included one or two other species in the genus, such as I. pringlei, but these have more recently been reduced to synonymy.[4] Common names for I. unisetus include crane grass, turkey grass,[5] Honduras grass, Mexican grass,[6] Central America grass, hático (Colombia), zacate blanco (El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico), and zacate chompipe (Nicaragua).[7]
| Ixophorus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Supertribe: | Panicodae |
| Tribe: | Paniceae |
| Subtribe: | Cenchrinae |
| Genus: | Ixophorus Schltdl. 1861[1] not Nash 1896 |
| Species: | I. unisetus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ixophorus unisetus (J.Presl) Schltdl.
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
This grass is native to Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Colombia.[2][5] It is an introduced species in Hawaii.[2][8]
The grass is variable. It can be annual or perennial, growing up to 1.5 meters tall or remaining much shorter. The stem can be up to a centimeter wide and dry to nearly succulent. The inflorescence is an open panicle with up to 50 branches.[3]
This grass is grown for grazing and hay in some places, such as Costa Rica.[6]
Taxonomy
editSeveral taxa were once regarded as members of Ixophorus but are now regarded as better suited to other genera, such as Pennisetum and Setaria:[2]
- Ixophorus glaucus – Pennisetum glaucum
- Ixophorus glaucus var. laevigatus – Setaria parviflora
- Ixophorus italicus – Setaria italica
- Ixophorus verticillatus – Setaria verticillata
- Ixophorus viridis – Setaria viridis
References
edit- ^ Schlechtendal, Diederich Franz Leonhard von. 1861. Linnaea 31(4): 420-422 descriptions in Latin, commentary in German
- ^ a b c d e Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ a b Hiser, K. M. Ixophorus Schltdl. Archived 2015-02-17 at the Wayback Machine Grass Manual. Flora of North America.
- ^ a b Kellogg, E. A., et al. (2004). Taxonomy, phylogeny, and inflorescence development of the genus Ixophorus (Panicoideae: Poaceae). Int J Plant Sci 165(6) 1089-1105.
- ^ a b "Ixophorus unisetus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- ^ a b Ixophorus unisetus. Archived 2017-11-25 at the Wayback Machine Grassland Species Profiles. FAO.
- ^ Quattrocchi, U. CRC World Dictionary of Grasses: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology, Volume 1. CRC Press. 2006. pg. 1141.
- ^ Ixophorus unisetus. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER).
External links
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