Botanical name
Elegia ebracteataFamily
RestionaceaeCommon Name
Large Millet Reed, Bractless Deckreed, Millet SeedSynonym (old name)
Chondropetalum ebracteatumDescription
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