Rat-tail grass (Sporobolus africanus, Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 25: 242 (1955))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (Poir.) Robyns & Tournay

Bibliography: Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 25: 242 (1955)

Year: 1955

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sporobolus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Nigeria to Ethiopia and S. Africa, Arabian Pen., Sri Lanka

Description

Rat-tail grass, scientifically known as Sporobolus africanus, is a resilient member of the Poaceae family. This species of grass is predominantly distributed across a wide geographical range encompassing regions from Nigeria to Ethiopia and extending to Southern Africa. Moreover, it is also found in the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Sri Lanka.

Originally documented in 1955 in the Botanical Garden State Bulletin of Brussels, this grass was classified by botanists Poiret, Robyns, and Tournay. The elegant yet hardy nature of Sporobolus africanus allows it to thrive in these diverse climates, displaying its adaptability to various environmental conditions.

Rat-tail grass is notable for its distinctive inflorescence that resembles the tail of a rat, giving the plant its common name. This characteristic structure not only aids in identification but also contributes to the plant’s biological success, allowing effective seed dispersal over considerable distances.

Given its robust nature and extensive geographical range, Sporobolus africanus plays a significant role in the ecosystems it inhabits. It serves as a stabilizing force against soil erosion and provides forage for livestock in many arid and semi-arid regions of its distribution. Additionally, its presence can be an indicator of certain soil types and environmental conditions, thus serving as a useful plant in ecological monitoring and land management practices.

Overall, Sporobolus africanus stands out as a versatile and vital component of the grassland flora, blending utility with ecological significance across the regions it inhabits.

Common Names

Eng: african dropseed, rat-tail grass
Cym: hadwellt affrica
En: Rat-tail grass, African Dropseed, Rat’s tail grass
Fr: Sporobole d’Afrique
Cy: Hadwellt Affrica

Synonyms

• Panicum caudatum (Thunb.)
• Agrostis africana (Poir.)
• Sporobolus indicus var. cinereoviridis (Baaijens)
• Vilfa africana ((Poir.) P.Beauv.)
• Vilfa capensis (P.Beauv.)
• Sporobolus indicus var. capensis (Engl.)
• Sporobolus batesii (A.Chev.)
• Sporobolus capensis (Kunth)
• Vilfa dianthera (Steud.)
• Sporobolus indicus var. africanus ((Poir.) Jovet & Guédès)

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Free State (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Lesotho (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jan 13, 2022 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 13, 2022 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2021 by Augustin Soulard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2022 by Marc Roussin (cc-by-sa)

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

Leaf

Taken Aug 26, 2022 by Marc Roussin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Marc Roussin (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)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/4152259)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:422594-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sporobolus africanus (Poir.) Robyns & Tournay)

Specifications

Growth