Annual Swamp Grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Annual Swamp Grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Panicum myosuroides var. spiciforme
• Hymenachne myosuroides
• Panicum spiciforme
• Panicum huillense
• Panicum myosuroides
• Sacciolepis myosuroides var. nana
• Sacciolepis lebrunii
• Sacciolepis luciae
• Sacciolepis huillensis
• Sacciolepis delicatula
• Sacciolepis geniculata
• Sacciolepis spiciformis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Poales and the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Sacciolepis as Sacciolepis myosuroides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is geographically located within the region of West-Central Tropical Africa. Its presence is specifically documented across several distinct nations in this area. It can be found growing in the landscapes of Burundi and Cameroon. Additionally, the species inhabits the territories of Congo and Rwanda. Finally, its distribution extends into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sacciolepis myuriodes is characterized by its adaptability to a broad range of altitudinal gradients within its native habitat. This species thrives across diverse topographical layers, establishing itself in environments ranging from lower foothills to higher mountainous regions. Specifically, its ecological distribution spans an elevational range starting from a minimum of 200 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. This significant vertical distribution suggests that the plant can tolerate varying temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture levels associated with different montane life zones.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Sacciolepis myuroides is characterized by its existence as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable periods of its environment by persisting in the form of resistant seeds, which remain dormant in the soil until conditions become suitable for regrowth. This strategy allows the species to rapidly exploit seasonal resources, transitioning through its vegetative and reproductive stages to ensure the continuity of the next generation before the onset of environmental stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Sacciolepis myuroides is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically exhibiting a graminoid structure. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its ecological habit, rather than aquatic or epiphytic, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. It is a self-supporting species, lacking any climbing or vine-like characteristics. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sacciolepis myuroides is fundamentally characterized by its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy wherein carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle without the specialized anatomical adaptations seen in C4 or CAM plants. This C3 pathway involves the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) to form 3-phosphoglycerate. Consequently, the plant's energy production and biomass accumulation are heavily influenced by environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability, as the C3 mechanism is susceptible to photorespiration under high-temperature or drought-stressed conditions. The metabolic efficiency of this plant is thus tied to its ability to manage gas exchange and transpiration through its stomatal regulation to balance carbon gain against water loss.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Sacciolepis myosuroides has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid.

Flavonoid

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Activities

Sacciolepis myosuroides has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Preparations