Hyparrhenia cymbaria

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass that forms tufts. It has creeping underground stems or rhizomes and tall stems. It can grow 3-4 m high. The leaves are flat and green. The flowering arrangements have many branches. They can be 60 cm long. They have red or purple colours.

There are 53 Hyparrhenia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wooded grassland and on the edges of forests and along streams.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Himalayas, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Shoots, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abool, Tsekera, Vohitara

Synonyms

Andropogon cymbarius L.; Andropogon intonsus Nees; Andropogon lepidus Nees; Anthristiria cymbaria (L.) Roxb.; Anthristiria latifolia Andersson; Cymbopogon cymbarius (L.) Thomson; Cymbopogon elegans Spreng.; Cymbopogon lepidus (Nees) Chiov.; Hyparrhenia formosa sensu Sturgeon;