African feathergrass

Family: Poaceae
Scientific name: Cenchrus caudatus
Description: Plant Form Tufted perennial grass. Size Up to 2 m tall. Stem Upright, cylindrical, sometimes hairy in lower parts. Leaves Light green, ribbed blades up to 50 cm long, sometimes longer. Initially rolled inward but flattening with age. Darker green underside and occasionally with purplish edges and tips. Flowers Dense cylindrical cluster 8-30 cm long containing hundreds of flower spikes. Pale brown to straw coloured with occasional purplish appearance. Fruit and Seeds Spikelets 5-7 mm long surrounded by feather-like bristles. With yellow to brown seeds. Habitat Grasslands, woodlands, river banks, waste areas. Distinguishing Features Typically has shorter bristles on the spikelets than other Cenchrus species. Weed Status: Priority Weed Weed Type: Environmental, Agricultural Lifeform: Grassy

Example images for this weed