Giant finger grass (Chloris barbata, Fl. Ind. Occid. 1: 200 (1797))

Family: Poaceae

Author: Sw.

Bibliography: Fl. Ind. Occid. 1: 200 (1797)

Year: 1797

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Chloris

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Old World

Description

Giant finger grass, scientifically known as Chloris barbata, is a notable member of the Poaceae family. First described in the “Flora Indiae Occidentalis,” authored by Swartz in 1797, this species has garnered attention due to its widespread presence across tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World.

Native to a variety of warmer climates, Giant finger grass is characterized by its robust and tufted growth habit. The grass typically thrives in open, disturbed habitats, making it a common sight along roadsides, fields, and waste areas. Its adaptability to various soil types and environmental conditions underscores its resilience and ubiquitous nature.

Botanically, Chloris barbata features a distinct inflorescence composed of several slender, finger-like spikes that radiate from a central point, resembling the fingers of a hand—hence its common name. These spikes bear small, pale green flowers that contribute to the plant’s notable reproductive success.

Ecologically, Giant finger grass plays a significant role in its native habitats. It provides ground cover that helps in soil stabilization, preventing erosion in many degraded lands. Additionally, it serves as a food source for various herbivorous animals and insects, integrating itself into the local food web.

Overall, Chloris barbata or Giant finger grass is a species that exemplifies adaptability and ecological importance in the landscapes where it is found. Its presence in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World continues to intrigue botanists and ecologists alike, as they study its growth patterns, ecological contributions, and potential uses in habitat restoration and soil conservation efforts.

Common Names

Heb: aseva se’ira, עשבה שעירה
Deu: bart-fingergras, bärtiges gilbgras
Eng: swollen fingergrass, giant finger grass, purpletop chloris, swollen windmill grass
Swe: paraplygräs
En: Giant finger grass, Purpletop chloris, Swollen windmill grass, Swollen fingergrass
Zh: 孟仁草
Fi: Partaviuhkaheinä
Fr: Chloride barbue
De: Bärtiges Gilbgras, Bart-Fingergras
He: Aseva se’ira, עשבה שעירה
Ml: മയിൽപ്പുല്ല്
Sv: Paraplygräs
Zh-tw: 孟仁草
Th: หญ้ารังนก

Synonyms

• Chloris paraguaiensis (Steud.)
• Chloris barbata var. divaricata (Kuntze)
• Chloris rufescens (Steud.)
• Chloris inflata (Link)

Distribution

• Aldabra (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Andaman Is. (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Benin (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Chad (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Djibouti (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Mauritius (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Rodrigues (native)
• Réunion (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Phoenix Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Vanuatu (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Wake I. (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Dec 26, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 26, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 20, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 20, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 20, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 22, 2021 by pedrogc — (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 20, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 29, 2019 by Pessoa Hemerly Jefferson (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2021 by pedrogc — (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 14, 2021 by Pieter Verbrugghe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 14, 2021 by Pieter Verbrugghe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 3, 2022 by Tumpa Tumpa (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Oct 17, 2015 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Taken Oct 25, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 27, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2021 by pedrogc — (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 12, 2021 by Silvian Haryono (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Apr 16, 2019 by louma03 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2021 by Luiz Henrique Gurgueira (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2019 by Gauri Arun Chavan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 6, 2020 by Rachmad Widro (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Oct 25, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289612)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1168070-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Chloris barbata Sw.)

Specifications

Growth