Gramineae

Wild oatgrass, Boat grass

Panicoideae; Andropogonodae: Andropogoneae: Andropogoninae.

Occurs throughout tropical Africa in mesophytic, open savanna and grassland ecosystems.

A gracefully attractive, short, loose to densely tufted, sometimes rhizomatous grass, usually with a reddish tint. The culms are 300-1,000 mm tall, but not usually taller than 600 mm. The leaf blades are 50-180 mm long, 2-6 mm wide and open with a prominent midrib. The leaves are twisted like a corkscrew when dry with a reddish colour. The inflorescence comprises short racemes, which are each solitary and partly enclosed in a boat-shaped reddish-brown spatheole. The spikelets are 3.5-4.0 mm long, sessile and pedicellate.

M. ceresiiforme is habitat specific and an indicator of acidic soils. It is a grass with average grazing value, but becomes hard as the plant matures.

Chromosome base number, x = 5 or 10.

Not toxic.

M. ceresiiforme occurs on open grassy slopes and hillsides at high altitudes with high rainfall or, where rainfall is low, in sandy soils where water accumulates. In central parts of Africa it may grow around vleis in low-lying areas, but is still typically found in high altitude moist grasslands.

It is associated with leached, acidic soils or sometimes in sandy soils where water accumulates.

M. ceresiiforme is a native pasture species and is not deliberately propagated.

A summer-growing species that flowers from January to April.

None known

It has average leaf production.

References

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.