Poaceae · Setaria

Chirchita / Hooked Bristle Grass

Setaria verticillata

HerbMedicinal
Habit
Herb
Found in India
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh & more
Flowering
September-January

Plant Details

Scientific name
Setaria verticillata
Genus
Setaria
Family
Poaceae
Habit
Herb
Habitat
Degraded forest areas
Habitat type
Forest
Distribution
India, Pakistan, Tropical and warm regions
Found in India
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh
Flowering & fruiting
September-January
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Arrangement
Alternate
Simple type leaf character
Type
Simple
Entire margin leaf character
Margin
Entire
Parallel venation leaf character
Venation
Parallel

Typical of the Poaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower arrangement
PaniclerecordedA branching cluster of clusters.The inflorescence is a dense panicle up to 15 centimeters long which tapers at both ends. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fruit surface
Smooth, not spinyrecorded

Typical of the family

Inflorescence
Spike
Fruit
Grain

Characters marked “recorded” are for Chirchita itself; the rest are typical of the Poaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Hindi
चिरचिटा Chirchita, बरचिट्टा Barchitta, उल्टा कांटा Ulta kanta
Nepali
झुसे कागुने घाँस Jhuse Kaagune Ghaans
Tamil
Amarippul, Chankari, Chataippul

About Chirchita

Hooked bristle grass (Setaria verticillata) is a herb in the Poaceae family. In India it has been recorded in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and 11 other states. It grows in degraded forest areas. Flowering and fruiting run from September to January.

Illustration representing the Poaceae family
Botanical family

Poaceae

Grass family

Chirchita belongs to the Poaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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