Origin:
Native to Africa, and introduced as an ornamental grass. This is highly drought tolerant, and as an escape from cultivation it can be a problem along roadsides, in ditchbanks, and orchards.
Biology:
A perennial grass, producing large, showy seed heads in early summer. These dry and remain on the plant into the fall months.
Identification:
Mature plants have many stalks arising from the central base, and stems can grow to 2.5 feet long. Flower heads form at the ends of the stalks, as a very large, wide, and bristly florescence that is yellowish brown in color. Flower head may be 4 inches long and over 1 inch wide, with long, hair-like awns that themselves may be 1 inch long. Leaves are covered with short, soft hairs that are most dense in the area of the sheath at the base of the leaf.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
A perennial grass that propagates from seed.
