Andropogon fastigiatus L. (Diectomis fastigiata (Sw.) P. Beauv.) is an annual tufted grass mainly found in tropical Africa that is used as forage and pasture. It can be used for thatching.
Morphology
Andropogon fastigiatus is a tufted annual species that reaches 30-200 cm in height. Green in colour, and turns orange-brown when dry. Most leaves are basal, the shoots are not compressed and the culms are branched in the upper part. Leaf sheaths are glabrous. The leaf blades are flat, linear, 5–30 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, glabrous, apically filiform, held erect or curved and not curling when dry. The margins are smooth and basal leaf sheaths are rounded. The inflorescence is a leafy terminal or lateral panicle made of single racemes. Racemes are 2–5 cm long. Internodes and pedicels are clavate, ciliate. Spikelets maybe pedicellate or sessile. Pedicellate spikelets are large, oblong, 9 mm in lentgh. Sessile spikelets are 4–5 mm long. (Kew Science, 2021; Vorontsova, 2013; Quattrocchi, 2006; Clayton et al., 1982)
Uses
Andropogon fastigiatus is used for forage and pasture (Quattrocchi, 2006). It has been used for thatching and has been assessed for the production of xylitol a non cariogenic sugar (Quattrocchi, 2006; Rotschild et al., 1991).
