Stipagrostis obtusa

(Delile) Nees

Triple awned grass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal 125 iNaturalist observations

fodder

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Summary

Stipagrostis obtusa (Afrikaans: kortbeen boesmangras, Khoekhoe: ǂhabob, Hebrew: מלענן ריסני) is a perennial grass belonging to the grass family (Poaceae). It is a widespread species, being native to North Africa, Mauritania, Chad, Ethiopia, Southern Africa, Western Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan. Stipagrostis obtusa is used as fodder grass in Namibia, it can survive on an annual rainfall of about 150 millimetres (5.9 in).

Description

A herb. It is an erect annual grass. It forms tufts. It can keep growing for a few years. It grows 60 cm high.

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Edible Uses

The seeds are eaten in porridge and also used for beer.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are eaten in porridge. They are also used for beer.

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Distribution

It grows in dry sandy soils. It cannot tolerate salt. It often grows over limestone material. It can grow in desert. It grows between 80-1,300 m above sea level. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 50-400 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Namibia, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tunisia, West Africa, Yemen,

Production

The seeds are collected from ants nests. The seeds are winnowed and ground into flour.

Synonyms

Aristida obtusa Delile

Also Known As

Durayri, Halfa, N'sa, Sabat, Safsuf, Silian, Sulliyan, Sulnilah, Tsaura

References (2)

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 4th June 2011]
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew