Setaria sphacelata

Setaria sphacelata is a tall African grass, also known as South African pigeon grass and African bristlegrass. It is native to tropical and subtropical Africa, and is extensively cultivated globally as a pasture grass and for cut fodder. This is a rhizomatous perennial grass producing flattened, hairless, blue-green stems up to 2 m tall. The inflorescence is a dense, narrow panicle of bristly, orange-tinged spikelets up to 25 cm long. In Africa, Setaria sphacelata seed heads are an important food source for several bird species, including the long-tailed widowbird. Commercial cultivars have been developed for various climates and soil conditions. All cultivars are high in oxalate, making them generally unsuitable for horses. Recognised pests in cultivation include the buffel grass seed caterpillar (Mampava rhodoneura) and the fungus Pyricularia trisa. Setaria sphacelata is a good quality forage for ruminants such as cattle, sheep and goats. It can be fed fresh and ensiled. Setaria sphacelata has become naturalised in many countries and is a significant environmental weed in three Australian states.

Description

A grass which keeps growing from year to year. It is 0.5-2 m tall. It normally forms compact tufts. Some kinds have long creeping stolons and form tillers. The stems are erect and simple. The leaves can be smooth or hairy. They are narrow and taper to a short tip. The flower is a slender spike-like head 7.5-25 cm long. It is often golden in colour.

Edible Uses

The seeds are boiled and ground into a meal, used in kreb, a grain mixture eaten in Chad.

Traditional Uses

It is reported as being boiled then ground into a meal. It is used in kreb a grain mixture eaten in Chad.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Listed with a caution note in edible portion data.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It can grow in warm temperate and tropical regions. It grows in hot arid places. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 500 mm. It grows on a range of soils and they can be poorly waterlogged. It grows in wet grass savannah. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Israel, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, North Africa, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, St Helena, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, USA, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed.

Other Information

It is a famine food.

Notes

It is normally grown as a pasture for animals. There are about 130 Setaria species. They are mainly in the tropics and subtropics.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Cununo, Dikiyta-kot, Ikununu, Kazungula grass, Likonge, Quisumbe, Rhodesian timothy, South African Pideon grass, Umpuhlo

References (24)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 571
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.
• Chapman, J. D. & Chapman, H. M., 2001, The Forest Flora of Taraba and Andamawa States, Nigeria. WWF & University of Canterbury. p 212
• Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 72
• Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 297

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