Feather fingergrass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Feathery Rhodes-Grass
• feather finger grass
• feather windmill grass
• feathered chloris
• feathertop Rhodes grass
• feathertop grass
• feathery Rhodes grass
• hairy Rhodes grass
• oldland grass
• sweet grass
• woolly-top Rhodes grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chloris virgata var. elegans
• Chloris elegans
• Chloris decora
• Chloris gabrielae
• Chloris multiradiata
• Chloris notocoma
• Agrostomia barbata
• Eleusine penicillata
• Chloris tibestica
• Chloris meccana
• Chloris rogeonii
• Chloris penicillata
• Chloris polydactyla subsp. multiradiata
• Chloris compressa
• Chloris madagascariensis
• Chloris caudata
• Chloris barbata var. meccana
• Chloris barbata var. decora
• Chloris alba
• Chloris alba var. aristulata
• Chloris alberti
• Cynosurus penicillatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Poales, it is classified under the family Poaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Chloris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across both Europe and Africa. In Middle Europe, its presence is noted within the regions of Germany and the area spanning Czechia and Slovakia. Moving southward, the species is also well-established across various parts of Northern Africa. Specifically, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Algeria and Egypt. Furthermore, its range extends across the territory of Libya, demonstrating its adaptability to different climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chloris virgata is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from highly disturbed anthropogenic areas to more specialized natural formations such as the Caatinga (strictu sensu) and Campo de Várzea. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal tolerance, occupying a vertical range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL. Across its distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 816.67 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to thrive in both lowland plains and significant montane elevations.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

816.666666666667 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Várzea

Life history

The life history of Chloris virgata is characterized by its classification as an annual species, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its structural survival strategy, the plant functions as a therophyte, relying on hardy seeds to endure unfavorable environmental conditions and periods of dormancy. Additionally, its growth habit is described as a hemicryptophyte, indicating that its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by a layer of leaf litter or soil, which facilitates its ability to re-emerge and complete its life cycle when conditions become favorable.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Chloris virgata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is an independent species, not acting as a parasite, and is classified as a terrestrial organism rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. The plant is relatively low-growing, with a stature that typically ranges from a minimum height of 0.12 m to a maximum height of 1.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height min:

0.12 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chloris virgata is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows the plant to concentrate carbon dioxide and minimize photorespiration, providing a competitive advantage in high-temperature and high-light environments. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a linear leaf form with entire leaf margins, contributing to its streamlined structural profile. Furthermore, the plant lacks any specialized defensive dermal structures, as it possesses neither leaf thorns nor leaf spines.

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chloris virgata is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, ensuring self-compatibility within the plant structure. The flowering period is quite extensive, typically beginning around February and continuing through August, though it can vary across the months. The plant produces very lightweight seeds to facilitate propagation, with a minimum seed mass of 0.0001 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.000219182 g, and a maximum mass reaching 0.00041 g. Dispersal is primarily driven by an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are adapted for wind dispersal, allowing them to spread efficiently across their environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Aug

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00041 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000219182 g

Seed mass min:

1e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Chloris virgata has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.

Antibacterial

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Conditions

Chloris virgata has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Proteus mirabilis

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Salmonella typhi

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Preparations

Chloris virgata has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include plant extracts.

Plant extracts

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences