Common Name:

General Information

Themeda arguens is an annual to short-lived perennial, clump-forming grass with erect culms around 20 - 200cm tall
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
Themeda arguens is a fast growing and very aggressive grass. At present, this species has been listed as invasive in Jamaica and Fiji, and it is spreading across these islands displacing and outcompeting native grasses and herbs. In areas invaded by this grass, livestock tend to avoid it for more palatable species resulting in it becoming dominant over other low growing species. In addition, the plant seeds heavily and seeds can be easily dispersed by wind, vehicles, animals, and attached to clothes and mud. The practice of using dry grass stems as packing for provisions being carried to market is another common cause for the introduction and spread of this species[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Andamans to Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, through tropical Asia to New Guinea and tropical Australia,

Habitat

A very common and widespread weed of sunny, dry roadsides, ruderal places, grassy areas, Tectona- and savannah forest, soil usually less fertile, in open areas often in huge numbers; at elevations up to 1,550 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.70 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The inflorescences are used in dry flower arrangements[].

Edible Uses

The young shoots are eaten as a sweet-tasting vegetable[].

Medicinal

The young shoots are used as a treatment against fevers[].
The leaves are used as a treatment against lumbago and rheumatism[]

A decoction of the roots is used as a tonic, blood cleanser, and restorer of virility[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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