Setaria verticillata - Flora of Qatar

Chaetochloa ambigua, Chaetochloa brevispica, Chaetochloa verticillata, Chamaeraphis italica, Chamaeraphis verticillata, Ixophorus verticillatus, Panicum adhaerens, Panicum ambiguum, Panicum aparine, Panicum asperum, Panicum decipiens, Panicum floribundum, Panicum italicum, Panicum respiciens, Panicum rottleri, Panicum rude, Panicum verticillatum, Panicum viride, Pennisetum respiciens, Pennisetum verticillatum, Setaria adhaerens, Setaria ambigua, Setaria aparine, Setaria brevispica, Setaria carnei, Setaria conglomerata, Setaria decipiens, Setaria depauperata, Setaria floribunda, Setaria gussonei, Setaria italica, Setaria leiantha, Setaria nubica, Setaria panicea, Setaria pratensis, Setaria pseudoverticillata, Setaria respiciens, Setaria rottleri, Setaria teysmannii, Setaria verticilliformis, Setaria viridis, Setariopsis verticillata

Common names

Extract from Wikipedia article

Setaria verticillata is a species of grass known by the common names Bristly foxtail and hooked bristlegrass. It is native to Europe, but it is known on most continents as an introduced species and often a noxious weed. It is a hardy bunchgrass which grows in many types of urban, cultivated, and disturbed habitat. It is a weed of many types of agricultural crops, growing in vineyards and fields. Herbicide-resistant strains have been noted.[+]

This is an annual grass with decumbent or erect stems growing up to a meter long. The leaf blades are up to 25 centimeters long and have a long sheath around the stem. The inflorescence is a dense panicle up to 15 centimeters long which tapers at both ends. It contains many small spikelets and bristles. The bristles have tiny backwards-pointing barbs that help them hook onto clothing or animal fur, facilitating their dispersal.

Seeds of the grass are used to make beer in South Africa and porridge in Namibia. They have been used as a famine food in India.

AI-generated Description

Setaria verticillata, also known as bristly foxtail, is an annual grass native to tropical and subtropical regions. In Qatar, it has been found to grow as a common weed in disturbed areas, roadsides, and agricultural fields. It thrives in the country's hot and dry climate, often forming dense stands. The plant can grow up to 1 meter tall, with flat, hairy leaves and bristly spikelets that contain its seeds. In Qatar, S. verticillata typically blooms from March to November, producing numerous seeds that disperse easily, contributing to its widespread distribution across the country.

Bristly foxtail grass (Setaria verticillata) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014

Unnamed Road, Qatar

Bristly foxtail grass (Setaria verticillata) on a field on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. Qatar, May 1, 2015

Al Wukair Street, Qatar

AI-generated summary of observations

Bristly foxtail grass (Setaria verticillata) was observed growing on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya Farms, south-western Qatar, on two occasions: October 25, 2014, and May 1, 2015. The plant was found to be thriving in the irrigated fields, suggesting its ability to tolerate or even prefer moist conditions. In addition to its presence in agricultural areas, Setaria verticillata was also spotted in urban environments, such as on Al Mawrid Street in Al Lejbailat area, Doha, on May 26, 2016. A close-up observation of the plant revealed its characteristic features, indicating that it can grow and survive in a variety of settings, from irrigated farms to urban streets. The plant's adaptability and persistence were evident in its ability to colonize different habitats in Qatar. Its growth patterns and distribution suggest that it is a hardy and versatile species.

Links

Outside links

How the web page was created

Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.

Setaria verticillata (L.) P.Beauv.

Synonyms