Gramineae
Creeping carrot-seed grass
Chloridoideae; Chloridae sensu lato.
Endemic to southern Africa and is more common in the arid parts of the country. A ruderal weed that increases with overgrazing.
A perennial, rhizomatous and stoloniferous grass that grows to a height of 120-950 mm tall. The leaf blades are 10 to 50 mm long and up to 3 mm wide. Ligule is a very narrow fringed membrane. Inflorescence is narrowly spike-like. The spikelets are 3.5-4.8 mm long and are clustered on peduncles that are much shorter than the spikelets. The glume hairs are curved, not hooked at the tip.
T. koelerioides is the only perennial of the four species found in South Africa, the others are all annuals. The distinguishing feature is the curved glume hairs.
T. koelerioides is a ruderal weed that increases with overgrazing. It is therefore an indicator of overgrazing as well as a ground cover in overgrazed, arid areas and helps to prevent loss of topsoil.
Chromosome base number, x = 10.
C4 photosynthetic pathway. Biochemical type XyMS+. PCR sheath outlines are even and PCR sheath extensions are present. PCR cell chloroplasts have well-developed grana and are centripetal.
Not toxic.
T. koelerioides is found in arid climates at moderate altitudes and low annual rainfall. It occurs in open vegetation on a variety of soil types and increases with over-grazing. It occurs infrequently and seldom becomes dominant.
It grows in a variety of soil types.
T. koelerioides is a native pasture species and is not deliberately propagated.
A winter- to spring-growing species that flowers anytime from July to May.
None known.
It is a poor grazing species due to the low leaf production, but is grazed where it occurs.
Gibbs-Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L. Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M., Dallwitz, M.J. 1991. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, No. 58, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.