Golden Beardgrass, lovegrass, Mackie's pest, needle grass, seed grass, spear grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mackie's pest
• lesser spear grass
• love grass
• pilipiliula
• Chore kata
• Wild Oat Grass
• golden false beardgrass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chrysopogon aciculatus var. longifolius
• Holcus aciculatus
• Rhaphis aciculata
• Rhaphis trivialis
• Chrysopogon trivialis
• Chrysopogon subulatus
• Centrophorum chinense
• Sorghum aciculatum
• Andropogon aciculatus
• Andropogon javanicus
• Andropogon subulatus

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, specifically as a member of the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Chrysopogon, with its specific species name being aciculatus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Chrysopogon aciculatus, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Benin. Additionally, its presence extends into the territories of Burkina Faso and Ghana. The species is also documented to inhabit parts of the Ivory Coast. Finally, its range reaches into the nation of Mali, completing its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chrysopogon aciculatus is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscapes, primarily thriving within savanna ecosystems, dense secondary shrublands, and ruderal vegetation. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2300 m AMSL, with a mean elevational preference of approximately 750 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize disturbed or ruderal sites suggests a resilient ecological nature, allowing it to persist in various stages of secondary vegetation succession.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Savanna, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Genetics

The genetics of Chrysopogon aciculatus are characterized by a stable karyotype, featuring a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 20. This specific chromosomal configuration indicates a ploidy level of 2, signifying that the organism maintains two complete sets of chromosomes within its somatic cells. This diploid status is a fundamental genetic attribute that influences the plant's reproductive stability and evolutionary lineage within its taxonomic group.

Chromosome number :

20

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Chrysopogon aciculatus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface debris. Additionally, the species exhibits the characteristics of a geophyte, utilizing underground organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions and ensure long-term survival within its habitat.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Chrysopogon aciculatus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. As a terrestrial plant, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting and does not exhibit climbing behavior, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chrysopogon aciculatus is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic constraints that define its growth patterns. The leaves exhibit a linear structure with a length ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, while maintaining a narrow width that fluctuates between 0.3 cm and 0.5 cm. In terms of water storage and tissue structure, the plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating a reliance on standard hydration mechanisms rather than specialized water-storing parenchyma. Furthermore, its metabolic profile lacks the ability to perform biological nitrogen fixation, meaning the plant is not a nitrogen fixer and must rely on available nitrogen sources within the soil substrate for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chrysopogon aciculatus is characterized by the production of small, brown flowers organized into inflorescences that typically measure between 0.03 m and 0.06 m in length. The resulting fruit is an indehiscent achene, which reaches a maximum length of approximately 0.2 cm. The dispersal of these seeds is facilitated through a combination of syndromes, primarily functioning as zoochorous, which involves animal-mediated movement, and anthropochorous, indicating dispersal influenced by human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

brown

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence length max:

0.06 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Chrysopogon aciculatus has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aciculatin, CAMPESTEROL, CITRONELLYLISOBUTYRATE, Citronellyl isobutyrate, Nudaphantin.

Aciculatin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

CAMPESTEROL

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

CITRONELLYLISOBUTYRATE

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Citronellyl isobutyrate

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Nudaphantin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Tricin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

gamma-Oryzanol

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Conditions

Chrysopogon aciculatus has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pain.

Pain

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Chrysopogon aciculatus has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract.

Ethanol extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology