Tabas grass
Lasiurus scindicus

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a grass that forms tufts. The stems are wiry. It grows 90 cm high. It has underground stems or rhizomes. It keeps growing from year to year.

There is only one Lasiurus species according to Flora of Pakistan - not this one!

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in dry sandy soils in the Sahel in West Africa. It is drought resistant. It cannot tolerate frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 50-250 mm. It can grow in alkaline soil. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Arabia, Asia, Central Africa, Chad, Djibouti, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Niger, North Africa, Pakistan, Qatar, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Western Sahara, Yemen

How it is used for food

The seeds are ground into flour and mixed with other flours. It makes a hard bread.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

It is grown from seeds. It can be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Darif, Dunghara, Gawan, Guerfis, Sevan, Sewan, Shewar, Shinwan, Sin, Siwan

Synonyms

Rottbolia hirsuta (Forssk.) Vahl.; Elionurus hirsutus Munro ex Benth.; Lasiurus ecaudatus Saty. & Shank.; Lasiurus hirsutus (Forssk.) Boiss.; Saccharum hirsutum Forssk.;