Braamfontein Spruit Ecological Corridor

(c) Alba Rovira, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alba Rovira

Thatching Grass

Hyparrhenia hirta

Animal-friendly

Supports grazers/browsers Supports grazers/browsers

Tolerances & suitability

Drought-resistant Drought-resistant

Social features

Useful Useful

Habitats

Near water Near water
Rocky habitat Rocky habitat

Aspect

Sun Sun
Semi-shade Semi-shade

Plant types

Grass Grass

Succession

Pioneer species Pioneer species

Flowering

  • green
  • white
  • yellow
Sep Oct Nov Dec

Hyparrhenia hirta is a species of grass known by the common names common thatching grass and Coolatai grass. It is native to much of Africa and Eurasia, and it is known on other continents as an introduced species. In eastern Australia it is a tenacious noxious weed. In South Africa, where it is native, it is very common and one of the most widely used thatching grasses. It is also used for grazing livestock and weaving mats and baskets.
This is a perennial grass forming clumps 30 centimetres to one metre tall with tough, dense bases sprouting from rhizomes. The inflorescence atop the wiry stem is a panicle of hairy spikelets with bent awns up to 3.5 centimetres long. The grass can grow in a variety of habitat types, in dry conditions, heavy, rocky, eroded soils, and disturbed areas.


Hyparrhenia hirta is a species of grass known by the common names common thatching grass and Coolatai grass. It is native to much of Africa and Eurasia, and it is known on other continents as an introduced species. In eastern Australia it is a tenacious noxious weed. In South Africa, where it is native, it is very common and one of the most widely used thatching grasses. It is also used for grazing livestock and weaving mats and baskets.
This is a perennial grass forming clumps 30 centimetres to one metre tall with tough, dense bases sprouting from rhizomes. The inflorescence atop the wiry stem is a panicle of hairy spikelets with bent awns up to 3.5 centimetres long. The grass can grow in a variety of habitat types, in dry conditions, heavy, rocky, eroded soils, and disturbed areas.

References
External links

Jepson Manual Treatment
USDA Plants Profile
Grass Manual Treatment
"Hyparrhenia hirta". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

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