Centropodia glauca
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| Centropodia glauca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Seed pods | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Chloridoideae |
| Genus: | Centropodia |
| Species: | C. glauca |
| Binomial name | |
| Centropodia glauca (Nees) Cope (1983) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Centropodia glauca, also known as ghagras or ikagras[2][3] is a species of grass native to Botswana, Namibia, South Africa (Cape Provinces and Northern Provinces), and Kenya.[1] The occurrence of this grass is proof of well-preserved sandveld. The grass is very hardy and can thrive in dry veld. It is a perennial pole grass that usually grows between 200–850mm but can grow up to 1m tall. The flowering period is between September and May.[4] Because ghagras have few leaves and the stalks are almost always green, it is resistant to fire.[5]
It grows mainly in deep sandy soil, particularly in duneveld; also grows in gravelly soil.[6] It is eaten by game, especially oryx.
It was first described by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck, and given its current name by Thomas Arthur Cope.[7]
