Kingdom:
Phylum:
Angiosperms
Order:
Poales
Family:
Genus:
Species:
polystachyum
ID:
861525

Status:
valid

Authors:
Balansa

Source:
wcs

Year:
1885

Citation Micro:
Bull. Soc. Bot. France 32: 244 (1885)

WFO Identifier:
wfo-0000860860

Common Names

  • Polystachyum Ctenium
  • Ctenium
  • Polystachyum Grass

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Description

Ctenium polystachyum (also called Many-spiked Ctenium, among many other common names) is a perennial grass native to the southeastern United States. It has a tufted growth habit, with narrow, flat leaves and small, white flowers. It grows in moist, sandy soils and is often found in open woodlands, fields, and roadsides.

Uses & Benefits

Ctenium polystachyum is used as a forage grass for livestock, as a soil conservation plant, and as a cover crop for soil improvement.

Flower, Seeds and Seedlings

The flower of Ctenium polystachyum is a small, white, star-shaped flower with five petals. The seed is a small, round-shaped seed with a hard outer shell. The seedlings are small, thin and green with a single leaf.

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Cultivation and Propagation

Ctenium polystachyum is a perennial grass native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It is easy to cultivate and propagate, and can be grown in a variety of soils. It prefers full sun and regular watering. Propagation is by seed or division of clumps.

Where to Find Ctenium polystachyum

Ctenium polystachyum is found in dry grasslands and meadows in the southeastern United States.

Species in the Ctenium genus

Species in the Poaceae family

Achnatherum pekinense, Achnatherum pubicalyx, Achnatherum sibiricum, Achnatherum turcomanicum, Achnatherum brandisii, Achnatherum bromoides, Achnatherum calamagrostis, Achnatherum confusum, Achnatherum inebrians, Achnatherum jacquemontii, Achnatherum virescens, Achnatherum paradoxum, Achnatherum nakaii, Achnatherum pelliotii, Achnatherum haussknechtii, Achnatherum mandavillei, Achnatherum pilosum, Achnatherum parviflorum, Achnatherum staintonii, Aciachne acicularis, Aciachne flagellifera, Aciachne pulvinata, Acidosasa breviclavata, Acidosasa brilletii, Acidosasa chinensis, Acidosasa edulis, Acidosasa glauca, Acidosasa guangxiensis, Acidosasa lingchuanensis, Acidosasa nanunica, Acidosasa notata, Acidosasa purpurea, Acidosasa venusta, Acidosasa carinata, Acostia gracilis, Acrachne henrardiana, Acrachne perrieri, Acrachne racemosa, Acritochaete volkensii, Acroceras amplectens, Acroceras attenuatum, Acroceras boivinii, Acroceras bosseri, Acroceras calcicola, Acroceras chaseae, Acroceras diffusum, Acroceras elegans, Acroceras excavatum, Acroceras fluminense, Acroceras gabunense,

References

Benjamin Balansa (1825-1891): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Balansa' in the authors string.
POWO record for urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:396822-1: Govaerts R (ed.). 2023. WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants [Version 11]. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [WWW document] URL http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ [accessed 20 April 2023].