Hyparrhenia rufa

Jaragua, thatching grass

Perennial with stems up to 3 m high that is the dominant grass in some tropical regions with 600-1 400 mm of annual rainfall. Requires grazing when young to prevent tussocks from forming. Flowering stands must be mowed or burned. Does not persist under continuous close grazing but withstands heavy rotational grazing and outyields many other grasses where soil fertility is low. Palatable before the formation of tussocks.

Usually established from seed collected locally by hand and sown uncleaned on burned grass and bush without soil preparation. With this method, stands take about two years to establish. If clean seed is sown in a prepared seedbed and fertilized, the grass can be grazed after about five months.