St Augustine's grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It keeps growing from year to year. It has stolons and forms a dense mat. The stems are much branched. The flowering shoots are 10-30 cm tall. The leaf blades are folded when young. They are 15 cm long by 1 cm wide.

It is often cultivated as a tropical lawn grass.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows up to 800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Anguilla, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, East Africa, Marquesas, Mozambique, North America, Paraguay, Pacific, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, Taiwan, Tasmania, Uruguay, USA, West Africa

How it is used for food

The seeds are used for a meal.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Diastemanthe platystachys Steud.; Ischaemum secundatum Walter; Rottboellia dimidiata Thunb.; Rottboellia stolonifera Poir. Rottboellia tripsacoides Lam. Stenotaphrum americanum Schrank.; Stenotaphrum glabrum var. americanum (Schrank.) Doll;