| DESCRIPTION: It is a tufted and rhizomatous, leafy grass with unbranched culms that grow to a height of 30-120 cm tall. The leaf blades are 5-20 cm long and 5 mm wide, usually rolled. Inflorescence is a single open or contracted raceme. USE: An unpalatable grass that is only grazed when it is very young. However, it forms a dense covering and protects the soil from erosion in areas with high rainfall. Where it occurs in abundance it is considered to be an indicator of under-utilization. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: Giant spear grass. FURTHER INF: It occurs in tropical to southern Africa and tropical America. In South Africa it is found in the Fynbos, Savanna and Grassland Biomes. Occurs in the wet, subtropical eastern mountain and Highveld parts of southern Africa as well as along the southern to south-western parts. Altitude range 500-2700 m. Rainfall may be from 450-1500 mm per annum. Usually grows in undisturbed grassland and bushveld in sandy and gravely soils. May also be found near seasonal wetlands. It has the C4 photosynthetic pathway. |