This is a lovely green to blue-green, tufted grass that is often
flushed with pink and turns red with age. Some forms have bright
yellow culms (stems). The spikelets (grass flowers) form wedge-shaped,
usually hanging clusters that may or may not be hairy with long,
black or white hairs. It is a well-known grazing grass, forming,
where dominant, the red grass or rooigrasveld (grasslands) in parts
of South Africa.
is a tufted perennial grass that is very variable in appearance
and size, ranging from 0.3-1.5 m in height. Plants from higher altitudes
tend to be shorter and dark purple, whereas, at lower altitudes,
plants are often lighter coloured and flushed only with purple.
The basal parts of the tuft are usually compressed. The wedged-shaped,
often pendant clusters of spikelets are surrounded by leaf-like
spathes or bracts that are brown or reddish brown and are often
flushed with mauve, purple or red. The spikelets are also awned,
that is, have long stiff bristle-like projections. Flowering time
is from October to July.
This grass is widespread in South Africa, growing in undisturbed
grasslands to savanna, in areas of average to high rainfall. Although
the grass grows in any type of soil, it prefers clay and soils with
high organic content.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
The meaning of the genus name Themeda is obscure, but it
is Arabic and appears to have something to do with water or possibly
the lack thereof. The species name tri (three) and andr
(man) is Greek, referring to the three male spikelets surrounding
the bisexual spikelet in each cluster.
World-wide, there are 18 species of Themeda occurring in
the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, mainly in Asia. T.
triandra is the only species occurring in Africa but is also
found in Asia and Australasia.
Red grass is an indicator of veld being in a good condition. It
is also known to be resistant to fire, the resistance increasing
when burnt regularly, but only if rested after fire and if overgrazing
does not occur. The long awns of the spikelet twirl when wet, and
drive the seed into the ground.
Uses and cultural aspects
This is a very important and well-known grazing grass that is palatable
especially when young. In some parts of Africa it is used for thatching
but the forms found in southern Africa tend to be flimsy and not
durable enough. In Lesotho and bordering areas it is used sometimes
for thatching and some basketry. Paper pulp can also be made from
the culms (stems). In Australia it has been used as an ornamental
and landscape plant.
Growing Themeda triandra
In South Africa, grasses in general and indigenous grasses in particular,
have seldom been used in gardens. The 'plant indigenous' drive and
the trend to 'wild gardens' in garden design has changed this. To
date, not much is known about the cultivation of our indigenous
grasses in gardens and only some nurseries have started selling
them. However, this is changing as more and more people are becoming
aware of the beauty of grasses and their usefulness in attracting
animals, especially birds to their gardens. The tall red grass forms
can be used as medium height accent plants or planted in small clumps
in a 'wild garden' feature.
An established plant can be obtained from a nursery, or depending
on the rains in November or December, whole culms with inflorescences
can be cut and laid on the ground. The awns (bristles) must be present
in the inflorescences while the rest of the stems will act as a
mulch, which is important for germination of the seed. After the
rains in February and March, seeds can be planted but these will
only germinate the following spring. Although clay soils with a
high organic content are preferred, if Themeda is occurring
naturally in your area, you could try to grow it. Once established,
little maintenance is needed except cutting back in winter to about
one third of it size and removing most of the old dead leaves.
References and further reading
- Chippindall, L.K.A. & Crook, A.O. 1976. Grasses of southern
Africa. Collins, Harare (Salisbury).
- Leistner, O.A. 2000. Seed plants of southern Africa: families
and genera. Strelitzia 10. National Botanical Institute,
- Moffett, R. 1997. Grasses of the eastern Free State.
- Van Oudtshoorn, F. 1999. Guide to the grasses of southern
Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
- Zacharias, P.J.K. 1990. Acocks' Notes: key grasses of South
Africa. The Natal Witness, Pietermaritzburg.
National Herbarium, Pretoria