Rat's tail grass
Sporobolus africanus

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It is densely tufted and wiry. It grows 60-100 cm high. The leaf blade is 40 cm long by 1-4 mm wide. The flowering shoot is like a dense spike with very small spikelets. They are less than 2.5 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Swaziland it grows in the high veld only. It grows on floodplains and swampy grasslands. It grows between 100-2,300 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Australia, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Hawaii, Kenya, Malawi, Marquesas, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pacific, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Swaziland, Tasmania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are crushed to a powder and used to make bread or injera.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Spikelet, seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Goor, Murii, Muriye, Nandinde, Pagame

Synonyms

Agrostis africana Poir.; Agrostis capensis Willd.; Agrostis spicata Thunb.; Sporobolus capensis (Willd.) Kunth; Sporobolus indicus sensu Stapf.; Sporobolus indicus var. africanus (Poir.) Jovet & Guedes; Vilfia capensis P. Beauv.;