Poaceae The grass family
Stipagrostis sabulicola
Photos from Station Dune and High Dune Found in: D & R Common names: English: Dune bushman grass German: Sandliebendes federgras
Afrikaans:
None found
Distribution: Endemic to the dune fields of the Namib. Identification: This spiky perennial grass is found as hummocks in the lower portion of the dune slopes in the vicinity of Gobabeb. The grass is composed of reed-like shrubs or dwarf shrubs that can reach a height of 2 m, with rhizomes robust and highly branched or tufted. The spikelets are 8-14 mm long (excluding awns) and the culms are branched from the nodes. The folded leaf blades can get up to 25-60 cm long, and they are erect and straight, overtopping the inflorescence, which is elongated, narrow and spike-like, usually partly enclosed in the uppermost leaf sheath. Glumes are straw-colored and turn brown with age. Ecology: Stipagrostis sabulicola is one of the few plants permanently present in the Namib sand sea. It is usually found in the lower dune slopes, but also occasionally on dune tops or in riverbeds. Various insects are associated with this grass, such as gall-forming moths, dune ants and wasps. The grass flowers from December to January. Uses: The dry blades of S.sabulicola are used to kindle fires, as well as for thatching material or for plaiting into mats.
References: Gibbs Russell G E et al (1991), Burke A (2003a), Klaassen E S and Craven P (2003) and Henschel J et al (2006) Photos by: Joh Henschel and Maja Sjรถskog