Fingerhuthia africana leaf blade

The leaf blades of Fingerhuthia africana are long, linear and hairless on slender culms and smooth sheaths; the ligule a fringe of long hairs. In picture the blade is pale green, but may also be purplish. Its shape here is flat in the lower part, folded higher up and may become up to 4 mm wide.

This grass is moderately palatable, remaining soft only as a young plant. The species varies in its ecological status, but is mostly a decreaser. This means that the plant weakens and may be replaced by other species in veld where it is overgrazed. This also holds if it is undergrazed.

It may sound illogical, but when an old dry grass cover persists, due to the absence of grazers or fire, the new sprouting of subsequent seasons may weaken progressively under the accumulating mat of leftovers from previous years (Van Oudtshoorn, et al, 1991; www.kyffhauser.co.za).