African lovegrass | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Genus: | Eragrostis |
Species: | E. echinochloidea |
Binomial name | |
Eragrostis echinochloidea | |
Eragrostis echinochloidea, (English: African lovegrass; Afrikaans: Krummelgras, "crumb grass") is a species of grass native to South Africa (Limpopo. North West, and Northern Cape provinces). Listed as "safe" (LC) on the SANBI Red List, [1] the plant can also be found in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.
African lovegrass is a perennial tussock that grows straight and knee-high. The leaves have tapered, papery sheaths and seed clusters sunken under the edges. The flower is a scarcely branched plume with closely packed spines on single branches. The spines are edible by humans and baboons. The drought tolerant species grows on disturbed veld and stony hillsides. [2]
In Deception Valley, one of the three dry riverbeds of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, the species prospers along with Enneapogon desvauxii and Sporoborus iocladus in the rainy season (from November to April/May). [3]
African lovegrass is mildly suited to grazing.
Header text | EIW | SWIW | LnregWIW |
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Grazing Response Index [4] | 4 | 4.5 | 2.2 |
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa extending for 900,000 square kilometres (350,000 sq mi), covering much of Botswana, and parts of Namibia and South Africa.
Eragrostis is a large and widespread genus of plants in the grass family, found in many countries on all inhabited continents and many islands.
Harpagophytum, also called grapple plant, wood spider, and most commonly devil's claw, is a genus of plants in the sesame family, native to southern Africa. Plants of the genus owe their common name "devil's claw" to the peculiar appearance of their hooked fruit. Several species of North American plants in the genus Proboscidea and certain species of Pisonia, however, are also known by this name. Devil's claw's tuberous roots are used in folk medicine to reduce pain.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a large wildlife preserve and conservation area in southern Africa.
The wildlife of Botswana refers to the flora and fauna of this country. Botswana is around 90% covered in savanna, varying from shrub savanna in the southwest in the dry areas to tree savanna consisting of trees and grass in the wetter areas. Even under the hot conditions of the Kalahari Desert, many different species survive; in fact the country has more than 2500 species of plants and 650 species of trees. Vegetation and its wild fruits are also extremely important to rural populations living in the desert and are the principal source of food, fuel and medicine for many inhabitants.
Astroloba rubriflora is a succulent plant found in the mountainous Karoo area around Robertson, South Africa. It is listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN global Red List.
Cladoraphis is a genus of African plants in the grass family, native to southern Africa. Its phylogenetic position within the subfamily has not yet been resolved.
Eragrostis lehmanniana is a species of grass known by the common name Lehmann lovegrass. It is native to southern Africa. It is present elsewhere as an introduced species. It is well known as an invasive weed in some areas, such as Arizona in the United States.
Astroloba spiralis is a small succulent plant of the Astroloba genus, endemic to the southern Karoo regions of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.
Cadaba aphylla ("Swartstorm") is one of some 30 species in the genus Cadaba. It is indigenous to southern Africa.
Pteronia pallens is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, indigenous to the Karoo regions of South Africa. Its natural habitat is dry, rocky slopes. It often cooccurs with its close relatives, Pteronia paniculata or Pteronia incana.
Pteronia incana is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, indigenous to the Karoo regions of South Africa.
Aristida congesta is a species of grass native to all provinces of South Africa as well as Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Mozambique. The SANBI Red List classifies it as "safe."
Eragrostis truncata is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is native to Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. Found most abundantly in the Nama Karoo, the plant is registered under the SANBI Red List as "safe" (LC).
Gazania lichtensteinii is one of the flowers known as a calendula, native to South Africa and Namibia. On the SANBI Red List, it is listed as "safe".
The African sheepbush is a plant native to South Africa and Namibia. It ranges throughout the Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo, renosterveld, and fynbos, and it is listed under the SANBI Red List as "safe" (LC).
Stipagrostis namaquensis is a species of grass native to South Africa and Namibia, especially in the Nama Karoo. It is listed as "safe" (LC) on the SANBI Red List.
Asparagus multiflorus is a robust shrub or climber of the Asparagus genus, that is indigenous to the southern Cape regions of South Africa.
Protea humiflora, the patentleaf sugarbush, is a flower-bearing shrub belonging to the Protea genus. The plant is endemic to South Africa and occurs from the Du Toitskloof Mountains to the Langeberg and Waboomsberg. The plant grows to 2 m in diameter and flowers from July to September with its peak in August.
Centropodia glauca, also known as ghagras or ikagras 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. Because ghagras have few leaves and the stalks are almost always green, it is resistant to fire.