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Sporobolus_fimbriatus - (Nees ex Trin.) Nees

Common Name Perennial Dropseed. Dropseed grass
Family Poaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards The plant may contain hydrocyanic acid, but poisoning is seldom a problem[299 ].
Habitats Open woodland and grassland, often in shallow rainwater pans, sometimes on rocky hillsides, also in disturbed or shady locations; at elevations up to 2,000 metres[299 ]. Occurs in the tropics and subtropics, extending into warm temperate regions.
Range Africa - Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Sporobolus_fimbriatus Perennial Dropseed. Dropseed grass


edibleplants.org
Sporobolus_fimbriatus Perennial Dropseed. Dropseed grass
Roger and Alison Heath powo.science.kew.org

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Sporobolus_fimbriatus is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Sporobolus marlothii Hack. Sporobolus rehmannii Hack. Vilfa fimbriata Nees ex Trin.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Seed - eaten during times of food shortage; they may be ground to prepare a porridge[299 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Agroforestry Uses: It has been planted for soil stabilization[299 ]. Other Uses None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Climate: Subtropical semi-arid to humid. This species photosynthesizes by a more efficient method than most plants. Called the 'C4 carbon-fixation pathway', this process is particularly efficient at high temperatures, in bright sunlight and under dry conditions[299 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Sand Dropseed, Fringed dropseed, Matolo-a-maholo, Mussinguizuana, Tedze, Blousaadgras, Blousygras, Blousysaadgras , Common Dropseed, Fyngras, Gewone Fynsaadgras, Grootsoetgras, Grootsoetvleigras, Grootvleigras, Soetvleigras, Vleigras

Native Range

AFRICA: Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa (Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Transvaal)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Sporobolus fimbriatusPerennial Dropseed. Dropseed grassPerennial1.2 10-12 FLMHSNDMWe202

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Nees ex Trin.) Nees

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

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