Gramineae

Dew grass

Chloridoideae; Chloridae sensu lato.

Endemic to southern Africa and is more common in the arid parts of the country. It occurs in disturbed places such as road sides and trampled grassland.

A short, weakly perennial tufted grass that grows to a height of 400 mm. The lower nodes are usually bent in a knee-like fashion (geniculate). Leaf blades up to 4.5 mm wide and up to 150 mm long. Leaf sheaths are usually hairless with a prominent collar. Inflorescence is between 40 and 120 mm long and open and lax to somewhat contracted. The spikelets are flat and oval to longitudinally oval. They are pallid and green to dark grey. The rachilla is extremely fragile and breaks up from the apex downwards. The lemma is obtuse to rounded and lateral nerves are distinct. The palea is broadly elliptic to round (not notched) and the keels are entire.
E. obtusa is closely related to and sometimes confused with E. echinochloidea. E. obusa has glumes with round tips whereas E. echinochloidea has glumes with a sharp tip. Under a microscope it can also be seen that the paleas of E. echinochloidea are notched whereas those of E. obtusa are round.

This grass is grazed in the young stages, but has low leaf production. It is an indicator of heavy grazing in the past and is, therefore, useful in determining the condition of the vegetation.

C₄ photosynthetic pathway. Biochemical type XyMS+. PCR cell chloroplasts are ovoid or elongated with well-developed grana and are centrifugal/peripheral to centripetal.

Not toxic

E. obtusa is adapted to arid climates at various altitudes and annual rainfall between 300 and 600 mm. It occurs on sandy, gravelly or limestone soils in disturbed places where it may become locally common.

It often grows in areas with sandy, gravely or limestone-rich soil.

E. obtusa is utilized as a native pasture species. It becomes more common after over-grazing.

A winter- to spring-growing species that flowers anytime from July to May.

None known

It is a poor grazing species that is usually only grazed in the young stage.

Gibbs-Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L. Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M., Dallwitz, M.J. 1989. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, No. 58, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Van Wyk, E. & Van Oudtshoorn, F. 1999. Guide to grasses of southern Africa. Briza Publications, Arcadia, South Africa.