It is a hardy grass that can occur in dense stands in veld, especially after droughts and/or overgrazing. Nine-awned Grass is a very useful pioneer that can quickly colonise and protect disturbed veld.
Description
Length up to 1 m. The leaves and culms are covered with dense, velvety hairs. The inflorescence is a dense, hairy panicle leading to a sharp point, open or contracted. The nodes are densely hairy.
Habitat
Nine-awned Grass usually grows in disturbed veld. It can also be found along roadsides. It mostly grows in sandy and gravelly soil and is common in mopaneveld and limestone areas.
