Centropodia glauca

Centropodia glauca, also known as ghagras or ikagras[1][2] is a species of grass endemic to Namibia, South Africa, Kenya and Botswana. The occurrence of this grass is proof of well-preserved sandveld. The grass is very hardy and can thrive in dry veld. It is a perennial pole grass that usually grows between 200–850mm but can grow up to 1m tall. The flowering period is between September and May.[3] Because ghagras have few leaves and the stalks are almost always green, it is resistant to fire.[4]

Centropodia glauca
Seed pods
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Centropodia
Species:
C. glauca
Binomial name
Centropodia glauca
(Nees) Cope
Synonyms
  • Asthenatherum glaucum (Nees) Nevski
  • Asthenatherum glaucum var. lasiophyllum (Pilg.) Conert
  • Danthonia glauca Nees
  • Danthonia glauca var. lasiophylla Pilg.
  • Danthonia suffrutescens Stapf

It grows mainly in deep sandy soil, particularly in duneveld; also grows in gravelly soil.[5] It is eaten by game, especially oryx.

It was first described by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck, and given its current name by Thomas Arthur Cope.[6]

References
  1. "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org.
  2. "Centropodia glauca (KNDGL)[Overview]| EPPO Global Database". gd.eppo.int.
  3. "Savanna". Spesie portefeulje vir Suid Afrika biome.
  4. van der Walt, Pieter; le Riche, Elias (1999). Die Kalahari en sy plante. Pretoria: Pretoria. pp. 90–91. ISBN 0-620-23415-6.
  5. van Oudtshoorn, Frits (1992). Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa. Pretoria: Briza publications. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-920217-35-8.
  6. Cope, 1983 In: Kew Bull. 37: 658
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