Abyssinian rhodes grass (Chloris gayana, Révis. Gramin. 1: 89 (1829))

Family: Poaceae

Author: Kunth

Bibliography: Révis. Gramin. 1: 89 (1829)

Year: 1829

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Chloris

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, Trop. & S. Africa, Arabian Pen.

Description

The Abyssinian rhodes grass, scientifically known as Chloris gayana, is a notable species within the Poaceae family, widely recognized for its resilience and versatility. First described by the botanist Kunth in the significant work “Révis. Gramin. 1: 89” in 1829, this grass has since been extensively studied and valued for its manifold applications.

Naturally thriving in diverse regions, Abyssinian rhodes grass demonstrates a remarkable adaptability to various climatic conditions. It is native to Macaronesia, covering islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and extends through Tropical and Southern Africa. The species further spreads across the Arabian Peninsula, illustrating its ability to flourish in a range of environments from semi-arid to tropical climates.

Abyssinian rhodes grass is esteemed for several agricultural uses. Its robust nature makes it an excellent choice for pasture and hay, particularly in areas where other grasses might struggle to survive. The grass is valued for its high nutritional content, which supports livestock health and productivity. Additionally, its vigorous growth habit and effective ground coverage help prevent soil erosion, making it an essential component in sustainable land management practices.

This species’ adaptability is further demonstrated by its tolerance to saline soils, which expands its cultivation potential to coastal regions and areas affected by high soil salinity. As a result, Abyssinian rhodes grass is particularly advantageous in long-term agricultural planning, where soil conditions and climate variability must be considered.

In terms of botanical characteristics, Chloris gayana displays a tufted growth form with slender, erect stems and green, linear leaves. It produces inflorescences comprising multiple spikelets that contribute to its effective seed dispersal and establishment in various terrains.

In conclusion, Abyssinian rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) stands out as a highly adaptable and beneficial species within the Poaceae family. Its ability to grow in a wide range of climates and soil types, combined with its agricultural value, underscores its importance in both natural ecosystems and cultivated landscapes.

Common Names

Eng: abyssinian rhodes grass, rhodes grass
Heb: asevat ha’mireh, עשבת המרעה
Spa: grama rhodes, grama de rodas, hierba de rodas, pasto de rodas, pata de gallo, pincha uvas
Deu: rhodasgras
Por: campim-de-rhodes, capim-de-rhodes, capim-rhodes
Fra: chloris, herbe de rhodes
Ita: erba di rhodes
En: Abyssinian Rhodes grass, Rhodes grass, Rhodes windmillgrass, Gayana Windmill Grass, Rhodes windmill-grass
Af: Rhodesgras, Rhodes-gras
Zh: Fei zhou hu wei cao, 蓋氏虎尾草, 非洲虎尾草
Fi: Laidunviuhkaheinä
Fr: Chloris, Herbe de Rhodes, Rhodes grass
Ff: Pagamri
De: Rhodasgras
Ha: Kanarin doki
He: עשב רודוס, Asevat ha’mireh, עשבת המרעה
It: Erba di Rhodes
Pt: Capim-de-Rhodes, Campim-de-rhodes, Capim-rhodes
Es: Pasto de Rodas, Grama de Rodas, Zacate gordura, Zacate pata de gallo, Zacate rhodes, Grama Rhodes, Hierba de Rodas, Pata de gallo, Pincha uvas, Pasto Rhodes
Sw: Mkekundu
Zh-tw: 蓋氏虎尾草

Synonyms

• Eustachys gayana ((Kunth) Mundy)
• Chloris gayana f. oligostachya ((Murb.) Maire & Weiller)
• Chloris abyssinica (Hochst. ex A.Rich.)
• Chloris multiradiata var. ragazzii (Pirotta)
• Chloris gayana subsp. oligostachya (Murb.)
• Chloris glabrata (Andersson)

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Benin (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Caprivi Strip (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• Djibouti (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Free State (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Lesotho (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Mali (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Oman (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Desventurados Is. (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Jun 1, 2011 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Marc Roussin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2021 by J. J. R. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 22, 2021 by J. J. R. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2022 by jose Antonio Hernández (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2020 by Manuel Fardoulis (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 16, 2021 by 8A 11 Aarav (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 16, 2020 by bimbi bimbi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 24, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 24, 2021 by Queiroz Ancelmo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2020 by bimbi bimbi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2020 by Yapoudjian Elie (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 8, 2021 by Muluta João (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Feb 11, 2009 by EOL − Arthur Chapman (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2021 by J. J. R. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2018 by Philippe Buffet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2009 by EOL − Valter Jacinto (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 23, 2021 by erick cuevas (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289618)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:395891-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Chloris gayana Kunth)

Specifications

Growth form: Multiple Stem

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 5.0