Fimbristylis dichotoma

Fimbristylis dichotoma, commonly known as forked fimbry^[2] or eight day grass,^[3] is a sedge of the family Cyperaceae that is native to tropical areas.

Fimbristylis dichotoma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Fimbristylis
Species:	F. dichotoma
Binomial name
Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl
Subspecies and varieties[1]
see text
Synonyms[1]
Eleocharis dichotoma (L.) H.Karst. Isolepis dichotoma (L.) Kunth Scirpus dichotomus L. (1753) (basionym)

Description

The annual or perennial plant, 10–80 cm tall, with numerous long stems about 2 mm in diameter, slightly three-angled, compressed below the inflorescence, node-less, smooth and has a tufted habit. The root system is fibrous, wiry, black. Short rhizomes. Leaves numerous, forming a dense tuft at the base of the stem, being at least half as long as the stem.^[4]

Distribution

Fimbristylis dichotoma is widely distributed in Asia, Africa and Australia^[3] as well as in other parts of the tropics.^[5]

Habitat

Fimbristylis dichotoma grows well on wet or even flooded soil; it is also found in uplands where the soil has good water retention. It is also found in swamps, open waste places, grassy roadsides, Imperata cylindrica grasslands and some plantation crops.^[5]

Subdivisions

Six subdivisions are accepted.^[1]

• Fimbristylis dichotoma subsp. depauperata (R.Br.) J.Kern (synonyms Fimbristylis depauperata R.Br. and F. spirostachya F.Muell. ex Benth.) – Andaman Islands, southeastern China, eastern Malesia, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia
• Fimbristylis dichotoma subsp. dichotoma – tropical and subtropical Americas and Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Arabian Peninsula, New Guinea, and Australia
• Fimbristylis dichotoma var. floribunda (Miq.) T.Koyama – central and southern Japan and southern Korea
• Fimbristylis dichotoma subsp. glauca (Vahl) T.Koyama – southern India and Sri Lanka
• Fimbristylis dichotoma subsp. ophiticola (Britton) Zavaro – Cuba
• Fimbristylis dichotoma subsp. podocarpa (Nees) T.Koyama – west and central Africa, Madagascar, Indian subcontinent, Indochina, southern China, Korea, Malesia, New Guinea, Northern Territory, and Queensland