POACEAE

Cymbopogon pospischilii

Narrow-leaved Turpentine Grass

Grasses & Sedges

Local Context

Not uncommon in the estate. It is a tuffed perennial grass with low grazing value due to its bitter taste. It grows in various soil types including stony, sandy, and heavier clay soils, often found on rocky hillsides

Identification

Growth: Tufted perennial grass (usually 40–150 cm tall) with leaves mostly confined to the base; the fresh shoots are distinctly aromatic (smelling of turpentine).
Flowers: Arranged in a complex, leafy, reddish false panicle (10–38 cm long) consisting of paired short racemes; the spikelets have bent, twisted awns (10–20 mm long), and the main (sessile) spikelets have a deeply concave lower glume.
Leaves: Narrow and linear (12–30 cm long and 1–5 mm wide), often folded to appear thread-like (setaceous) or flat; they taper gradually to a fine point and have rough edges.
Texture: The leaf blades are generally smooth but rough on the edges, while the flower stalks (racemes) are conspicuously covered in silvery-white hairs; the basal leaf sheaths are often softly hairy.
Fruit: Consists of flattened spikelets (4.5–7.5 mm long) that fall off as a complete unit when mature.

Did You Know?

Cymbopogon pospischilii is a fire-resilient* perennial found from Africa to China that is easily identified by its reddish leaves and silvery, hairy seed heads. It is ecologically notable for its population doubling after burns and its unpalatability to livestock due to a pungent, turpentine-like aroma and bitter taste. Beyond its wild growth, it is used traditionally for medicinal cleansing, treating skin diseases, and even as a rodent repellent.

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