Guinea fowl grass, Itch grass
Rottboellia cochinchinensis

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It is a robust annual plant. It is erect and can be 3 m high. The stems are stiff and have few branches. There are lumpy bristles near the base. There can be stilt roots. The leaves are flat and 1.8 cm wide. They taper to a long fine point. There are sharp spiny hairs along the edges. The spike is simple, straight and 15 cm long. The spikelets are pressed closely.

There are 4 Rottboellia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in disturbed land and waste places but also forms extensive grasslands across West Africa. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Jamaica, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal, grains

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Caminadora Caminhadora, Canterum, Iam-iali, Kalim, Mesengere, Okalim, Pasto quebradizo, Quita chaco, Sabim

Synonyms

Rottboellia exaltata L.f.(1781) not (1799); Manisuris exaltata (L. f.) Kuntze; Stegosia cochinchinensis Lour.; and others