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Axonopus compressus
| Family Name: | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
| Common Name: | Tropical Carpet Grass, Wide-Leaved Carpet Grass, Cow Grass, Rumput Parit |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Grass & Grass-like Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South America, Mexico & Brazil |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Creeping stoloniferous grass, forms a dense mat on the ground surface, rarely reaching more than 15 cm tall. New shoots developing from older nodes can be up to 50 cm tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaf sheath loose, compressed, keeled; leaf blade broadly oblong, blunt, measuring 5 - 15 x 0.4 - 1 cm, hairy. |
| Stems | Creeping stem, internodes flattened, measuring 3 - 3.5 cm long, nodes hairy. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence; each stalk carries 2 - 3 spikelets measuring about 4 - 10 cm, stalks arise from the uppermost leaf sheath; spikelet flattened, has 2 flowers, green, elliptical, pointed, measures 2 - 3.5 mm x 1 - 1.3 mm, upper floret bisexual. |
| Fruit | Caryopsis, elliptical shaped, measures 1.25 mm long, yellow-brown colour. |
| Habitat | Flourish well in moist soil, and humid areas. |
| Similar | Similar to A. affinis but it is more robust, has stouter stolon and culm as well as wider leaves. |
| Etymology | The genus Axonopus means axle-stalkted, which refers to the spicate raceme that radiate around the upper part of rachis. The specific epithet compressus means flattened sideways, pressed together. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: A good ground cover to prevent soil erosion, and used widely as a lawn grass in the tropical and subtropical area. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stolon / Runner |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Ciliate / Hairy |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.0 (Turfgrass) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Spikelet / Compound Spike |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Caryopsis / Grain |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 415 |
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| Species ID | 1711 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
