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Red grass

Themeda triandra

Family: Poaceae Genus: Themeda Species: triandra

Synonyms: Andropogon ciliatus, Stipa paleacea, Stipa arguens, Anthistiria arguens var. japonica, Anthistiria forskalii, Anthistiria barbata, Themeda triandra var. sublaevigata, Anthistiria imberbis var. burchellii, Themeda forskalii subvar. subglobosa, Anthistiria ciliata, Anthistiria imberbis var. vulgaris, Anthistiria glauca, Anthistiria brachyantha, Themeda triandra var. imberbis, Themeda barbinodis, Themeda triandra var. trachyspathea, Apluda imberbis, Themeda forskalii var. burchellii, Themeda triandra subvar. japonica, Anthistiria polystachya, Themeda forskalii, Anthistiria ciliata var. burchellii, Anthistiria ciliata var. syriaca, Themeda barbata, Themeda triandra var. glauca, Themeda australis, Anthistiria imberbis var. roylei, Apluda barbata, Anthistiria imberbis var. argentea, Anthistiria desfontainii, Anthistiria imberbis, Anthistiria cuspidata, Anthistiria punctata, Themeda forskalii var. imberbis, Anthistiria ciliata var. brachyantha, Themeda triandra var. bracteosa, Anthistiria ciliata var. mollicoma, Themeda brachyantha, Anthistiria arguens f. japonica, Themeda forskalii var. mollissima, Themeda imberbis, Themeda unica, Themeda forskalii var. major, Themeda triandra var. vulgaris, Themeda triandra subsp. japonica, Themeda japonica, Anthistiria subglabra, Calamina imberbis, Anthistiria imberbis var. mollicoma, Themeda forskalii var. paleacea, Themeda triandra var. brachyantha, Anthistiria caespitosa, Themeda forskalii subvar. japonica, Anthistiria paleacea, Anthistiria australis, Themeda triandra var. punctata, Anthistiria syriaca, Themeda forskalii var. argentea, Themeda polygama, Themeda glauca, Anthistiria vulgaris, Anthistiria puberula, Themeda triandra var. burchellii, Themeda triandra var. japonica, Andropogon tenuipedicellatus, Themeda japonica var. viridiflora, Anthistiria argentea, Themeda forskalii var. vulgaris, Themeda triandra var. hispida, Anthistiria depauperata, Anthistiria japonica, Themeda triandra var. syriaca, Themeda forskalii var. glauca

Red grass (en)
Themeda triandra — flower
Themeda triandra — flower

Botanical Description

Themeda triandra, known as kangaroo grass or red grass, is a C4 perennial tussock-forming grass in the family Poaceae. It grows in dense tufts up to about 1.5 m tall and 0.5 m across, with linear leaves 10–30 cm long that turn grey-green in winter and red-brown in summer, giving rangelands a distinctive russet hue. Large red-brown spikelets are borne on branched, drooping inflorescences during the summer flowering season. The species is widely distributed through Africa, Australia (occurring in every state and territory), Asia and the Pacific, where it dominates grasslands and open woodlands. It is often abundant where moisture collects and grazing pressure is light, including roadsides and railway corridors. The grass responds favourably to occasional fire but declines under heavy grazing. Its drought tolerance, deep root system and high protein content make it both an ecologically important keystone species and a focus of renewed interest as a potential native grain crop.

Native Region: Algeria, Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Central African Repu, Chad, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Djibouti, East Himalaya, Egypt, Eritrea, Sumatera, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Victoria, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Free State, Ghana, Guinea, Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, New South Wales, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, South Australia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Victoria, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
236079

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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