Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 700 No. 1: 7 May 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-05-07
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.700.1.3
Page range: 29-44
Abstract views: 114
PDF downloaded: 12

Dactyloctenium ctenioides (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Dactylocteniinae): brief note on the taxonomy, distribution and a new record for North America

The Blatter Herbarium (BLAT), St. Xavier’s College (Empowered Autonomous Institute) Mumbai 400001
St. Xavier’s College (Empowered Autonomous Institute) Mumbai 400001
South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0184, South Africa
Indian Forest Service, Uttarakhand Forest Department, Dehradun 248006
Queensland Herbarium (BRI), Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane, Australia 40
America Dactylocteniinae Endemic species Gramineae Lectotypification Weed introduction Monocots

Abstract

Dactyloctenium ctenioides, previously regarded as the species endemic to East Africa and the West Indian Ocean Islands, has now been identified in a residential landscape in Florida, USA. This study examines its taxonomy, identification, morphological affinities with allied species, and distribution, drawing on specimens housed at BR, K, NHN, P, PIHG, PRE, and US herbaria, majority of which originate from Africa and West Indian Ocean Islands, and relevant global literature. Detailed photographic plates are provided for accurate identification, along with an updated distribution map based on GBIF data. Some possibilities link to its introduction in Florida are discussed. A second-step lectotypification has been conducted to resolve nomenclatural ambiguity, building on the first-step lectotypification inadvertently established in the Flora of East Tropical Africa in 1974. The first key to the global species of Dactyloctenium has been provided to facilitate the precise identification. The authenticated specimen of D. ctenioides housed at the PRE Herbarium, along with the lectotype specimen preserved at the Paris Herbarium (P), are cited as key reference materials for the validation of this species’ identity from Florida, USA.

References

  1. Anderson, P.J. (2021) Identifying Grasses: Starting with a Few Easy Ones. Botany Circular Issue No. 45. FDACS-P-01966. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, Florida. Available from: https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/101472/file/Identifying-Grasses-Circular.pdf (accessed 24 April 2025)
  2. Bosser, J. (1968) Note Sur les Graminees De Magascar-VII. Adansonia 2 8 (4): 513–522. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.296544
  3. Clayton, W.D., Phillips, S.M. & Renvoize, S.A. (1974) Gramineae (part II). In: Polhill, R.M. (Ed.) Flora of Tropical East Africa. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, pp. 250–258.
  4. Clayton, W.D. & Renvoize, S.A. (1986) Genera Graminum: Grasses of the world. Kew Bulletin Additional Series 13. Royal Botanical Garden, Kew. Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London, 223 pp.
  5. Cope, T.A. (1982) Poaceae. In: Nasir, E. & Ali, S.A. (Eds.) Flora of Pakistan, Volume 143. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and University of Karachi, Pakistan, pp. 105–109.
  6. Cope, T.A. (1995) Dactyloctenium [Gramineae]. In: Thulin, M. (Ed.) Flora of Somalia, vol. 4. Royal Botnical Gardens, Kew, pp. 189–191.
  7. Cope, T.A. (1999) Gramineae. In: Flora Zambesiaca, vol. 10 (2). Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, pp. 1–261.
  8. Cope, T.A., Kees, S.G. & Miller, A.G. (2007) Flora of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra, vol. 5 (1). Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, pp. 155–157.
  9. Fish, L., Mashau, A.C., Moeaha, M.J. & Nembudani, M.T. (2015) Identification Guide to Southern African Grasses: An Identification Manual with Keys, Descriptions, and Distributions. South African National Biodiversity Institute, pp. 196–198.
  10. Hatch, S.L. (2003) Dactyloctenium. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (eds.) Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 25: Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, pp. 112–114.
  11. Hitchcock, A.S. (1913) Mexican grasses in the United States National Herbarium. Contribution from the United States National Herbarium 17: 181–389.
  12. Hitchcock, A.S. & Chase, M.A. (1917) Grasses of the West Indies. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 18 (7): 261–471. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.53799
  13. Hitchcock, A.S. & Chase, M.A. (1920) Revisions of North American Grasses. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 22 (1): 1–234. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.53626
  14. Hitchcock, A.S. (1927) The Grasses of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Contribution from the United States National Herbarium 24 (8): 295–556.
  15. Kellogg, E.A. (2015) Poaceae. In: Kubitski, K. (Ed.) The Families and genera of vascular Plants, vol. 13. Springer, Berlin, 373 pp.
  16. Landge, S.N., Shinde, R.D. & Mistry, M.K. (2021) On the correct identity and distribution of Dactyloctenium scindicum (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae: Dactylocteniinae) in the Indo-Gangetic plains and Peninsular India and notes on other species in India. Rheedea 31 (4): 282–295. https://doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2021.31.04.05
  17. Lebrun, J.P., Stork, A.L. & Poilecot, P. (2023) Tropical African Flowering Plants Ecology and Distribution. Vol. 12, part 1. Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques, Genève, pp. 181–184.
  18. Liu, Q., Zhao, N.X., Hao, G., Hu, X.Y. & Liu, Y.X. (2005) Caryopsis morphology of the Chloridoideae (Gramineae) and its systematic implications. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 148: 57–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2005.00385.x
  19. Miller, A.G. & Morris, M. (2004) Ethnoflora of Soqotra Archipelago. The Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh.
  20. Steudel, E.G. (1855) Synopsis Plantarum Graminearum, vol 6 (1). J. B. Metzler Stuttgartiae, 423 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.471
  21. Thiers, B. (2025 [continuously updated]) Index Herbariorum: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih (accessed 22 March 2025)
  22. Wickens, G.E. (1979) The propagules of terrestrial flora of the Aldbara Archipelago, Western Indian Ocean. Atoll Research Bulletin 229: 1–37. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.229.1

How to Cite

Landge, S.N., Shinde, R.D., Mashau, A.C., Chandran, M. & Thompson, E.J. (2025) Dactyloctenium ctenioides (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Dactylocteniinae): brief note on the taxonomy, distribution and a new record for North America. Phytotaxa 700 (1): 29–44. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.700.1.3