Guinea-fowl grass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis, Kew Bull. 35: 817 (1981))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (Lour.) Clayton

Bibliography: Kew Bull. 35: 817 (1981)

Year: 1981

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Rottboellia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Old World to N. & NE. Australia

Description

Guinea-fowl grass, known scientifically as Rottboellia cochinchinensis, is a notable species within the Poaceae family. This grass is recognized for its widespread presence across tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, extending its reach into northern and northeastern Australia. Its distribution highlights its adaptability to diverse climatic conditions, making it an invasive species of considerable concern in several areas.

The species was first formally described by (Lour.) Clayton in a piece published in the Kew Bulletin in 1981, where it was detailed comprehensively in volume 35, page 817. The classification and botanical nomenclature provided are crucial for researchers and agriculturists focusing on understanding and managing this grass.

Guinea-fowl grass has a significant impact on agriculture due to its aggressive growth habit. Its ability to rapidly colonize fields and outcompete crops for resources makes it a weed of economic importance. Effective management strategies are essential to mitigate its spread and minimize negative impacts on crop yields and biodiversity.

In summary, Rottboellia cochinchinensis is a well-documented grass species noted for its extensive distribution and role as an invasive weed. Understanding its characteristics and implementing control measures are vital for managing its presence in affected regions.

Common Names

Eng: itchgrass, kelly grass, raoul grass, guinea-fowl grass, itch grass, kokoma grass
Por: capim-alto, capim-camalote, rabo-de-lagarto
En: Guinea-fowl grass, Kelly grass, Itch grass, Raoul grass, Kokoma grass, Itchgrass, Guinea fowl grass, Kokomo grass, Corn grass, Jointed grass, Lisofya, Shamva grass, Sugarcane weed, Prickle grass, Rice grass
Af: Tarentaalgras
Zh: 筒轴茅, 筒轴草
Fr: Rottboellie de Cochinchine, Herbe queue-de-rat
Pt: Capim-alto, Capim-camalote, Rabo-de-lagarto
Es: Caminadora, Cebada fina, Graminea corredora
Sw: Mbaya
Zh-tw: 筒軸茅
Vi: Cỏ mía

Synonyms

• Rottboellia exaltata (L.f.)
• Manisuris exaltata var. appendiculata ((Steud.) Honda)
• Rottboellia denudata (Steud.)
• Rottboellia setosa (J.Presl)
• Rottboellia hispida (Roxb. ex Hook.f.)
• Rottboellia arundinacea (Hochst. ex A.Rich.)
• Ophiuros appendiculatus (Steud.)
• Stegosia exaltata ((Kuntze) Nash)
• Rottboellia exaltata var. appendiculata ((Steud.) Hack.)
• Aegilops fluviatilis (Blanco)
• Manisuris exaltata (Kuntze)
• Rottboellia exaltata f. glaberrima (Chiov.)
• Stegosia cochinchinensis (Lour.)
• Rottboellia exaltata f. arundinacea ((Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Hack.)
• Rottboellia exaltata var. robusta (Hook.f.)
• Stegosia cochinchinensis var. robusta ((Hook.f.) M.R.Almeida & S.Yadav)

Distribution

• Andaman Is. (native)
• Angola (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Benin (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Christmas I. (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Congo (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Equatorial Guinea (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Mali (native)
• Mauritius (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Oman (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Réunion (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• Somalia (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Tharunoju Laxman kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Tharunoju Laxman kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 30, 2019 by Charles Blancher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 13, 2022 by Abinala Shonga (cc-by-sa)

© 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 Jul 17, 2022 by Tharunoju Laxman kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Tharunoju Laxman kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 27, 2016 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 30, 2019 by Charles Blancher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 30, 2019 by Charles Blancher (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 30, 2019 by Charles Blancher (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 27, 2016 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2704075)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:909653-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Graminoid

Growth