African feather grass (Cenchrus caudatus, Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 346 (1898))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (Schrad.) Kuntze

Bibliography: Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 346 (1898)

Year: 1898

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cenchrus

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Trop. & S. Africa to Arabian Pen.

Description

African feather grass is a resilient and adaptable plant known by its scientific name, Cenchrus caudatus. Described meticulously by the botanist Kuntze in 1898, this species belongs to the diverse and economically significant family Poaceae. Native to tropical and southern regions of Africa, as well as extending to the Arabian Peninsula, African feather grass thrives across a variety of environments.

Characterized by its slender, arching leaves and distinctive feathery inflorescences, Cenchrus caudatus is a striking addition to both wild landscapes and cultivated gardens. Its feathery structure not only contributes to its aesthetic appeal but also aids in the effective dispersal of seeds by wind, helping the species propagate across open habitats.

This grass’s robust growth habit and adaptability to different soil types make it a valuable species for combating soil erosion and stabilizing land. Despite its benefits, it is essential to manage its spread carefully, as it can become invasive in certain conditions, outcompeting native vegetation and leading to ecological imbalances.

Overall, African feather grass exemplifies the resilience and diversity of the Poaceae family, contributing to both the ecological stability and the visual richness of the regions it inhabits. Its presence across a broad geographic range highlights its adaptability and the overarching importance of grass species in various ecosystems.

Common Names

En: African feather grass, Bedding grass, Waterside-reed, African feathergrass
De: Afrikanisches Federborstengras
Sv: Svansborstgräs

Synonyms

• Pennisetum macrourum (Trin.)
• Pennisetum kisantuense (Vanderyst)
• Pennisetum togoense (Mez)
• Pennisetum validum (Mez)
• Pennisetum davyi (Stapf & C.E.Hubb.)
• Perotis latifolia (Eckl. ex Steud.)
• Pennisetum mildbraedii (Mez)
• Pennisetum scaettae (Robyns)
• Gymnotrix riparioides ((A.Rich.) Walp.)
• Pennisetum quartinianum (A.Rich.)
• Pennisetum tenue (Mez)
• Gymnotrix quartiniana ((A.Rich.) Walp.)
• Pennisetum giganteum var. minus (Leeke)
• Pennisetum franchetianum (Stapf & C.E.Hubb.)
• Pennisetum asperum (Schult.)
• Pennisetum haareri (Stapf & C.E.Hubb.)
• Pennisetum macropogon (Stapf & C.E.Hubb. ex Stent & J.M.Rattray)
• Cenchrus macrourus ((Trin.) Morrone)
• Pennisetum glaucocladum (Stapf & C.E.Hubb. ex Stent & J.M.Rattray)
• Pennisetum natalense (Stapf)
• Gymnotrix caudata (Schrad.)
• Pennisetum angolense (Rendle)
• Pennisetum stolzii (Mez)
• Pennisetum giganteum var. trinervium (Pilg.)
• Pennisetum angolense var. laxispicatum (Rendle)
• Gymnotrix gigantea ((A.Rich.) Walp.)
• Pennisetum riparioides (A.Rich.)
• Pennisetum exile (Stapf & C.E.Hubb.)
• Cenchrus glaucocladus ((Stapf & C.E.Hubb. ex Stent & J.M.Rattray) Morrone)
• Pennisetum stenorrhachis (Stapf & C.E.Hubb.)
• Pennisetum giganteum (A.Rich.)
• Panicum asperum (Link)
• Cenchrus mildbraedii ((Mez) Morrone)

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Benin (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Congo (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Lesotho (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Austria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 4, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2022 by Ciarán Ó Nualláin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2022 by Salomé Unia (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 2, 2020 by Diego Alex (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2022 by lee william (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2021 by min (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Erig Girard (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Oct 24, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 4, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 28, 2012 by Pedro Gaspar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2012 by Pedro Gaspar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2012 by Pedro Gaspar (cc-by-sa)

© 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.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60470539-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Pennisetum macrourum Trin.)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2706160)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7618730)

Specifications

Growth