Description

An annual grass forming erect or sprawling tufts to 1 m high, very variable, of dry soil and sub-desert waste places of the Sahel across the Region, and throughout the tropics.The plant is a quick growing pioneer of waste places. In India it assists in stabilising sand-dunes (9). It is adventive on irrigation bunds and river-banks in the rice growing area of Senegal (2), and fixes the sand-dunes north of Dakar (4).Reports on grazing value are varied, but on the whole it supplies a useful fodder of indifferent or of good quality wherever it grows, especially while green. It is available in both the rainy and the dry seasons, and in places is reckoned to be very important at the latter time for lack of better. An analysis of Ghanaian material has shown a high proportion (13%) of protein, and only 2% silica-free ash (1, 5). But sometimes the grass may be bitter when stock will not touch it — hence the Moore name in Ghana: mσtodv meaning ‘bitter grass’ (10). As for other Aristida spp. (cf. A. sieberana, A. mutabilis), the awned spikelets may prove troublesome rendering the plant unpalatable when in seed, but after shedding, the dried straw may be taken. In Somalia attacks of coughing in sheep have been shown to be caused by awns sticking in the throat (12). In Tanganyika the awned seed cause irritation to cattle’s eyes (13), and in Kordofan injury to cattle’s mouth and damage to the hide (3).The culms are used in Lesotho to make brooms, but of poor quality (8). In Nigeria (5) and in Kenya (6) they are used for thatching, and in the former territory for weaving into matting and making into sieves. The grass is one of the group known in Hausa as katsaura traditionally used in Nigeria (5) and Kordofan (3) for stuffing camel saddles.Hausa in N Nigeria claim that the plant (part not stated) pounded with white onions is a lactogene for women (7).Fula sorcerers in N Nigeria use the plant in offensive magic (lekki baatal) (11), but the circumstances and method are not recorded.

Description

An annual grass forming erect or sprawling tufts to 1 m high, very variable, of dry soil and sub-desert waste places of the Sahel across the Region, and throughout the tropics.The plant is a quick growing pioneer of waste places. In India it assists in stabilising sand-dunes (9). It is adventive on irrigation bunds and river-banks in the rice growing area of Senegal (2), and fixes the sand-dunes north of Dakar (4).Reports on grazing value are varied, but on the whole it supplies a useful fodder of indifferent or of good quality wherever it grows, especially while green. It is available in both the rainy and the dry seasons, and in places is reckoned to be very important at the latter time for lack of better. An analysis of Ghanaian material has shown a high proportion (13%) of protein, and only 2% silica-free ash (1, 5). But sometimes the grass may be bitter when stock will not touch it — hence the Moore name in Ghana: mσtodv meaning ‘bitter grass’ (10). As for other Aristida spp. (cf. A. sieberana, A. mutabilis), the awned spikelets may prove troublesome rendering the plant unpalatable when in seed, but after shedding, the dried straw may be taken. In Somalia attacks of coughing in sheep have been shown to be caused by awns sticking in the throat (12). In Tanganyika the awned seed cause irritation to cattle’s eyes (13), and in Kordofan injury to cattle’s mouth and damage to the hide (3).The culms are used in Lesotho to make brooms, but of poor quality (8). In Nigeria (5) and in Kenya (6) they are used for thatching, and in the former territory for weaving into matting and making into sieves. The grass is one of the group known in Hausa as katsaura traditionally used in Nigeria (5) and Kordofan (3) for stuffing camel saddles.Hausa in N Nigeria claim that the plant (part not stated) pounded with white onions is a lactogene for women (7).Fula sorcerers in N Nigeria use the plant in offensive magic (lekki baatal) (11), but the circumstances and method are not recorded.