Family: Poaceae
Author: Forssk.
Bibliography: Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 178 (1775)
Year: 1775
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Themeda
Vegetable: False
Observations: Africa, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to Australia
Description
Red grass, scientifically known as Themeda triandra, is a notable member of the Poaceae family. This resilient and adaptable species is indigenous to a broad range of environments, thriving naturally across the vast expanses of Africa, as well as the tropical and subtropical regions extending through Asia to Australia.
First documented by the eminent botanist Forsskål in 1775, Themeda triandra has been recognized for its unique adaptability and ecological importance. It plays a critical role in its natural habitats, contributing significantly to the biodiversity and sustainability of these ecosystems.
Red grass is often identified by its distinctive reddish hue, a trait that not only makes it visually striking but also lends itself to its common name. The plant is highly versatile, adapting to a variety of soil types and climatic conditions, which has facilitated its wide distribution.
Ecologically, Themeda triandra is instrumental in providing ground cover, preventing soil erosion, and supporting the life cycles of numerous insects and animals. In many African grasslands, it serves as a vital source of forage for indigenous herbivores, playing a crucial part in the food web.
Besides its ecological contributions, Red grass has various utilitarian values in traditional practices across different cultures. It is often used in traditional medicine, as well as for thatching and weaving due to its sturdy and fibrous qualities.
In summary, Themeda triandra, or Red grass, is a plant of significant ecological and utilitarian value, widely distributed from Africa through Asia to Australia. Its versatility and resilience make it an invaluable component of the diverse landscapes it inhabits.
Common Names
Eng: kangaroo grass, red grass, red-oat, red-oat grass
Afr: rooigras
En: Red grass, Kangaroo grass, Red-oat, Red-oat grass
Af: Rooigras
Synonyms
- Andropogon ciliatus (Thunb.)
- Stipa paleacea (Poir.)
- Stipa arguens (Houtt.)
- Anthistiria arguens var. japonica ((Andersson) Miq.)
- Anthistiria forskalii (Kunth)
- Anthistiria barbata (Desf.)
- Themeda triandra var. sublaevigata (Chiov.)
- Anthistiria imberbis var. burchellii ((Hack.) Stapf)
- Themeda forskalii subvar. subglobosa (Hack.)
- Anthistiria ciliata (Cav. ex Spreng.)
- Anthistiria imberbis var. vulgaris ((Hack.) Hook.f.)
- Anthistiria glauca (Desf.)
- Anthistiria brachyantha (Boiss.)
- Themeda triandra var. imberbis ((Retz.) Hack.)
- Themeda barbinodis (B.S.Sun & S.Wang)
- Themeda triandra var. trachyspathea (Gooss.)
- Apluda imberbis (Steud.)
- Themeda forskalii var. burchellii (Hack.)
- Themeda triandra subvar. japonica ((Andersson) Rendle)
- Anthistiria polystachya (Roxb.)
- Themeda forskalii (Hack.)
- Anthistiria ciliata var. burchellii ((Hack.) Hack.)
- Anthistiria ciliata var. syriaca ((Boiss.) Boiss.)
- Themeda barbata ((Desf.) Veldkamp)
- Themeda triandra var. glauca ((Hack.) Thell.)
- Themeda australis ((R.Br.) Stapf)
- Anthistiria imberbis var. roylei (Hook.f.)
- Apluda barbata (Llanos)
- Anthistiria imberbis var. argentea ((Nees) Stapf)
- Anthistiria desfontainii (Kunth)
- Anthistiria imberbis (Retz.)
- Anthistiria cuspidata (Andersson)
- Anthistiria punctata (Hochst. ex A.Rich.)
- Themeda forskalii var. imberbis ((Retz.) Hack.)
- Anthistiria ciliata var. brachyantha ((Boiss.) Boiss.)
- Themeda triandra var. bracteosa (Peter)
- Anthistiria ciliata var. mollicoma (Nees)
- Themeda brachyantha ((Boiss.) Trab.)
- Anthistiria arguens f. japonica (Andersson)
- Themeda forskalii var. mollissima (Hack.)
- Themeda imberbis ((Retz.) T.Cooke)
- Themeda unica (S.L.Chen & T.D.Zhuang)
- Themeda forskalii var. major (Hack.)
- Themeda triandra var. vulgaris ((Hack.) Domin)
- Themeda triandra subsp. japonica ((Andersson) T.Koyama)
- Themeda japonica ((Andersson) Tanaka)
- Anthistiria subglabra (Buse)
- Calamina imberbis ((Retz.) P.Beauv.)
- Anthistiria imberbis var. mollicoma ((Nees) Stapf)
- Themeda forskalii var. paleacea ((Poir.) T.Durand & Schinz)
- Themeda triandra var. brachyantha ((Boiss.) Hack.)
- Anthistiria caespitosa (Andersson)
- Themeda forskalii subvar. japonica ((Andersson) Hack.)
- Anthistiria paleacea ((Poir.) Ball)
- Anthistiria australis (R.Br.)
- Themeda triandra var. punctata ((Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Stapf)
- Anthistiria syriaca (Boiss.)
- Themeda forskalii var. argentea ((Nees) Hack.)
- Themeda polygama (J.F.Gmel.)
- Themeda glauca (Trab.)
- Anthistiria vulgaris (Hack.)
- Anthistiria puberula (Andersson)
- Themeda triandra var. burchellii ((Hack.) Domin)
- Themeda triandra var. japonica ((Andersson) Makino)
- Andropogon tenuipedicellatus (Steud.)
- Themeda japonica var. viridiflora (Honda)
- Anthistiria argentea (Nees)
- Themeda forskalii var. vulgaris ((Hack.) Hack.)
- Themeda triandra var. hispida (Stapf)
- Anthistiria depauperata (Andersson)
- Anthistiria japonica (Willd.)
- Themeda triandra var. syriaca ((Boiss.) Hack.)
- Themeda forskalii var. glauca (Hack.)
Distribution
- Algeria (native)
- Andaman Is. (native)
- Angola (native)
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Burkina (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Cameroon (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Caprivi Strip (native)
- Central African Repu (native)
- Chad (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Djibouti (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Tasmania (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Victoria (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Western Australia (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Free State (native)
- Ghana (native)
- Guinea (native)
- Hainan (native)
- India (native)
- Ivory Coast (native)
- Japan (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Korea (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Laos (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Lesotho (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Madagascar (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Mali (native)
- Maluku (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Nepal (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- New South Wales (native)
- Nicobar Is. (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Northern Territory (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Queensland (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Senegal (native)
- Socotra (native)
- Somalia (native)
- South Australia (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Tasmania (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Victoria (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Western Australia (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- France (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Solomon Is. (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Solomon Is. (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Jul 13, 2019 by Brett Bissell someguy (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 27, 2022 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 20, 2021 by Simon Chirgwin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Aug 20, 2021 by Simon Chirgwin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 21, 2021 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 27, 2022 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 30, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 10, 2020 by Florent Chivot (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.
Habit
Taken Oct 11, 2012 by John Tasirin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 30, 2019 by Sophie Macfarlane (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 4, 2015 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 21, 2021 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 30, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Bart Wursten (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jun 6, 2020 by Я. Игорь (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 20, 2021 by Simon Chirgwin (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Dec 20, 2021 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 13, 2021 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 12, 2019 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 12, 2019 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 6, 2019 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Aug 6, 2019 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 19, 2022 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 29, 2020 by bimbi bimbi (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2703467)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:424213-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Themeda triandra Forssk.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Graminoid
Growth
