golden-beard

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• golden-beard
• scented-top grass
• Scented Top

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anatherum parviflorum
• Andropogon micratherus var. quartinianus
• Capillipedium vietnamense
• Holcus parviflorus
• Andropogon micranthus var. villosulus
• Capillipedium parviflorum subsp. capiliflorum
• Holcus caerulescens
• Capillipedium parviflorum var. multispiculum
• Andropogon micranthus var. violascens
• Capillipedium cinctum
• Capillipedium arachnoideum
• Capillipedium arachnoideum subsp. luzoniense
• Andropogon micranthus var. multispiculus
• Andropogon quartinianus
• Chrysopogon parviflorus
• Andropogon parvispicus
• Chrysopogon parviflorus var. flavescens
• Chrysopogon parvispicus
• Andropogon capilliflorus
• Andropogon cinctus
• Chrysopogon villosulus
• Andropogon caerulescens
• Chrysopogon violascens
• Andropogon alternans
• Chrysopogon alternans
• Dichanthium parviflorum
• Sorghum quartinianum
• Dichanthium parviflorum var. capilliflorum
• Sorghum parviflorum
• Bothriochloa parviflora
• Bothriochloa parviflora f. villosula
• Rhaphis parviflora
• Bothriochloa parviflora f. violascens
• Bothriochloa parviflora var. muticispicula
• Rhaphis coerulescens
• Andropogon villosulus
• Andropogon violascens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, falling into the family Poaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Capillipedium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across several key regions within the tropical landscapes of Africa. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Eritrea and Ethiopia. The species also extends through the Sudan and South Sudan regions of the same area. Moving into East Tropical Africa, the plant can be found growing in Kenya. Finally, its geographical range continues southward into Tanzania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Capillipedium parviflorum is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscapes, ranging from low-lying areas to high-altitude environments. It thrives across a broad elevational range, occupying territories from as low as 200 m AMSL up to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. Its preferred habitats include savanna ecosystems, as well as dense secondary shrublands and ruderal vegetation, indicating a capacity to colonize disturbed sites and areas with significant secondary growth.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Habitat :

Savanna, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Capillipedium parviflorum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Structurally, the plant functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by a layer of leaf litter or organic debris. This hemicrypto-phyte life form is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring its survival and ability to regenerate following seasonal environmental changes.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Capillipedium parviflorum is characterized by a graminoid growth form, functioning as a non-woody herb. It is an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, as it maintains a terrestrial existence. While its habitat can range across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, the plant remains self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine. In terms of stature, it reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Capillipedium parviflorum is characterized by a specialized photosynthetic pathway and specific morphological dimensions. The plant utilizes a C4 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism that allows for enhanced carbon fixation efficiency and reduced photorespiration compared to C3 plants, particularly under conditions of high light intensity or temperature. This metabolic adaptation is complemented by its leaf morphology, where the maximum leaf width is recorded at 0.5 cm, a trait that influences the plant's surface area for gas exchange and transpiration regulation.

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Capillipedium parviflorum is characterized by the production of highly uniform, minute seeds that facilitate its dispersal and propagation. Quantitative analysis of its reproductive output reveals a remarkably consistent seed profile, with a measured seed mass mean of 0.00036 g. This consistency is absolute across the sampled population, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values are identical at 0.00036 g. Such extreme uniformity in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each individual seed carries a precise and standardized nutrient load to support early seedling development.

Seed mass mean:

0.00036 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Capillipedium parviflorum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-TETRADECANOL, 4-NONANOL, 4-Tridecanone, 4-Undecanol, 4-Undecanone.

1-TETRADECANOL

1. Natural product research

4-NONANOL

1. Natural product research

4-Tridecanone

1. Natural product research

4-Undecanol

1. Natural product research

4-Undecanone

1. Natural product research

trans-2-hexenyl butanoate

1. Natural product research