Kikuyu Grass
Cenchrus clandestinus
Its specific epithet 'clandestinus' refers to its hidden flowers, which remain tucked away inside the leaf sheaths, revealing only delicate, thread-like stamens to the wind.
- Scientific name
- Cenchrus clandestinus
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Liliopsida › Poales › Poaceae › Cenchrus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Subtropical grasslands, pastures, lawns, roadsides, and disturbed coastal areas.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- Kenya, Ethiopia, Australia, South Africa, United States, New Zealand
- Size
- Mat-forming turf up to 30 cm tall, with creeping stolons extending over 3 meters.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (indefinite clonal lifespan through continuous vegetative propagation).
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Herbicides, severe winter frost, extreme prolonged drought, and heavy shading by dense forest canopies.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Kikuyu grass is safe to touch and walk on, making it a popular lawn turf. However, its airborne pollen during flowering seasons can trigger hay fever and respiratory allergies in sensitive individuals.
The tropical grass species Cenchrus clandestinus (previously Pennisetum clandestinum ) is known by several common names, most often Kikuyu grass . It is native to the highland regions of East Africa that is home to the Kikuyu people. Because of its rapid growth and aggressive nature, it is categorised as a noxious weed in some regions. However, it is also a popular garden lawn species in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the southern region of California in...
Photo: Harry Rose, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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