Andropogon gayanus, commonly known as gamba grass, Rhodesian blue grass, tambuki grass, and other names, is a species of grass native to most of the tropical and subtropical savannas of Africa.
History and naming
Andropogon gayanus was scientifically named by 1833 from the Greek words andro (man) and pogon (beard) describing the tiny flower spikes. Its common names include gamba grass, bluestem (Africa, Australia); Rhodesian andropogon (southern Africa); Rhodesian blue grass (Zimbabwe); onga, tambuki grass (north-west Africa); and sadabahar (India).
Description
Andropogon gayanus seeds
This tufting perennial bunchgrass can grow 4 m (13 ft) tall and 70 cm (2.3 ft) in diameter, and has hairy leaves. Most of its roots are fibrous, spreading close to the surface of the soil for up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in), but it also has thick cord roots which store starch and anchor the plant as well as vertical roots able to extract water from a greater depth during the dry season.
It produces large numbers of light, fluffy seeds (up to 244,000 seeds each year, with 65% viability), which can be spread by wind, animals or machinery. It spreads rapidly where vegetation is disturbed, but most seeds fall within 5 m (16 ft) of the parent plant.
