Wool grass, Bottle brush grass
Anthephora pubescens

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass that grows in tufts. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1-2 m high. It has sturdy rhizomes or underground stems. The leaves form a tuft at the base. These are long and narrow and 30-50 cm long. The leaves on the stalk are 10-15 cm long and 3-5 mm wide. They taper to a soft point. The edges are thickened. The flowers are straw coloured or dull purple. They are 5-15 cm long and 1 m wide. The flower spikelets are in clusters. They are 6-11 mm long. They are densely hairy.

It is grown as a pasture grass.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rocky sites in deciduous bushland in West Africa. It grows in savanna woodland between 600-1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Anthephora abyssinica A. Rich.; Anthephora cenchroides (Hochst.) K. Schum. ex Engl.; Anthephora hochstetteri Nees ex Hochst.; Anthephora kotschyi Hochst.; Hypudaeurus cenchroides Hochst. ex A. Braun;