Botanical name

Elegia ebracteata

Family

Restionaceae

Common Name

Large Millet Reed, Bractless Deckreed, Millet Seed

Synonym (old name)

Chondropetalum ebracteatum
Elegia ebracteata
Elegia ebracteata
Elegia ebracteata
Elegia ebracteata
Elegia ebracteata
Elegia ebracteata

Description

Dioecious perennial, tufted on a very short rhizome. Height varies from 30cm-1m.

Culm: Unbranched with loosely wrapped shiny, maroon sheaths which drop off leaving dark abscission rings at the nodes.

Flowerhead: In the male, many spikelets are arranged in a spiral around the culm with small brown flowers resembling millet seed. The female inflorescence is similar to the male, but flowers are more robust and have white feathery styles.

The fruit is a 3-chambered capsule.

Distribution: From the Slanghoek Mountains to the Cape Peninsula and to Riversdale.

Note: A widespread species of variable appearance depending on location. In the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, the plants are slender with small flowers.

e (Latin) = without; brattea, bractea = gold leaf (bract) - (without bracts).

Habitat

Shallow sand over rock or deeper soils on well-drained mountain slopes and plateaux, 200-1600m.

Flower Date

February to May and October to December