Gramineae

T. arenaria Nees, T. arenaria Nees var. glauca (Hack.) Stapf,

Tricholaena capensis

Panicoideae; Panicodae, Paniceae. There are two subspecies, capensis and arenaria.

There are 12 species of Tricholaena that are found in Africa, Madagascar, the Canary Islands and in the Mediterranean region. Tricholaena capensis is endemic to southern Africa where it is found in southern Namibia and in South Africa. Subspecies arenaria is endemic to Namibia.

A tufted perennial grass that grows to a height of 200-600 mm tall. The leaf blades are 30-70 mm long and 2.0-3.5 mm wide. The culms branch from the lower nodes and the culms and leaves are hairy. Plants are usually bushy and bluish in colour, but in the west coast area it forms a flat green leafy mat. The ligule is a very narrow fringed membrane. Inflorescence is an open or contracted panicle with a persistent spikelet-bearing axis. The spikelets are hairy and 2-3 mm long and 1 mm wide. The spikelets are awnless.

This species is an average grazing grass, but is important in the arid regions in which it occurs (Van Wyk & Van Oudtshoorn 1999). The inflorescences may be used in flower arrangements.

Chromosome base number, x = 9.

C₄ photosynthetic pathway.

None reported and considered to be non-toxic.

Occurs in open habitats, but in a variety of different habitats thus suggesting that its ecological amplitude is wide (Zacharias 1990). A climax grass species of arid regions which is sub-dominant to more major species. The annual rainfall in the areas where it occurs is less than 200 mm. This species has been largely grazed out of these arid areas where it used to occur universally (Zacharias 1990). It may, however, still be locally common where it occurs (Gibbs-Russell et al. 1989). Species with which it may often be found include Aristida diffusa, Cenchrus ciliaris, Digitaria erianthe, Cymbopogon plurinodis, Enneapogon scoparius, E. scaber, Eragrostis curvula, E. lehmanniana, and others (Acocks 1988).

Grows in most soil types, but most often found in sandy or stony soils.

Tricholaena capensis is not propagated.

A summer-growing species that flowers anytime from January to June.

None known.

Slow-growing and not highly productive due to the low frequency with which it is currently encountered.

Acocks, J.P.H. 1988. Veld types of South Africa (3rd edn.). Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Afr. No 28. Government printer, Pretoria.

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.

Zacharias, P.J.K. 1990. Acocks' Notes: key grasses of South Africa. Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Howick.