Cenchrus clandestinus is a low-growing perennial with creeping stems that form dense growth. It spreads by above-ground runners and underground rhizomes. It is a popular grass for residential lawns and golf courses.
The grass is easily identifiable by its thick creeping stems and short green leaves that are flattened or upward-folding along the midrib.
Cenchrus clandestinus Classification
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Monocotyledonae
- Order: Poales
- Family: Poaceae
- Genus: Cenchrus
- Species: Cenchrus clandestinus
- Common Names: Kikuyu grass, Kikuyu
Nativity and Distribution
Cenchrus clandestinus is native to the highlands in Eastern Africa in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi.
Currently Kikuyu grass is naturalized in many regions globally including:
- Asia
- Europe
- Australia
- South Africa
- North America
- South America
Physical Characteristics
- Leaves: Short, bright green blades, glabrous or soft hairy
- Stems: Jointed, long, thick creeping stems
- Flowers: Inconspicuous narrow flower spikelets subtended by a ring of bristles
- Roots: Fibrous root system
Kikuyu grass is a low-growing perennial plant that can reach 30-90 cm in height. It is easily identified by its thick creeping stems and short bright green leaves that are flattened or upward folding along the midrib.
The grass has jointed thick stems (stolons) about 40 cm long that are heavily branched to form dense mats on the ground. It also produces creeping underground stems, also called rhizomes that run to a depth of 20-30 cm.
The leaves comprise a base leaf sheath and a spreading leaf blade. Leaf blades are short, bright green, glabrous or soft hairy, about 1-30 cm and 3-7 mm wide. Kikuyu grass leaves are soft and folded in the initial growth, but become flatter and coarser as it matures.
C. clandestinus produces inconspicuous inflorescence which remains hidden within the sheath, with occasional protrusion of the style or stamen tips. It consists of 2-4 long and narrow flower spikelets about 10-20 mm long and 0.8-1.5 mm wide, with two florets subtended by a ring of bristles.
Seeds are somewhat flattened, dark reddish brown, and about 2-3 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.
Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Seeds: Produces seeds under certain conditions
- Climate: Tropical and subtropical climates
- Dispersal: Animals, water, contaminated implements, crop seed, and vehicles
Cenchrus clandestinus behaves as a perennial plant that thrives in tropical and subtropical climates. It primarily propagates vegetatively through stolons and rhizomes.
However, in areas where seed is set, it can be dispersed by animals, water, or contaminated vehicles, implements, and crop seed.
Kikuyu grass is a desired turf for amenity and ornamental use and is, therefore, also deliberately introduced into new areas.
Similar Plants
- Cenchrus villosum
- Paspalum distichum
- Paspalum vaginatum
- Digitaria abyssinica
Uses
- It is a preferred turf for residential lawns and golf courses due to its attractive bright green foliage.
- It is grown for livestock pasture.
- The grass is used to stabilize soils on steep slopes and prevent soil erosion.
- It is used in land reclamation efforts.
- The grass is grown to suppress other invasive weeds like the senecio inaequidens.
Impact on Farms and Environment
C. clandestinus is a serious weed due to its elongate and highly invasive stems. While it is mostly grown for beneficial purposes, it can easily escape and colonize new areas, including farmlands.
Its thick mat-like growth can affect cultivated crops, leading to poor yields and consequently, high economic losses. Apart from competing for essential nutrients, kikuyu grass is also reported to have an allelopathic effect on plants like lucerne, tomatoes, and herbs.
Kikuyu grass is also considered a noxious environmental weed as its creeping stems block irrigation channels, waterways, roadsides, and industrial infrastructure. It also invades natural habitats by climbing over other plants, suppressing the growth of native species.
The aggressive grass also springs up on lawns, taking root over large areas if left unchecked. Since it’s resistant to mowing due to its extensive root system, it can be hard to eradicate, requiring intensive and expensive control mechanisms.
While it considered a high-value pasture grass, when growing in highly-fertile conditions or infected by fungi, it can cause toxicity in livestock, such as sheep.
Control
- Cultural control: Grow competitive plants that can outcompete the grass.
- Chemical control: Apply selective or non-selective herbicides like oryzalin and glyphosate
Planting taller or groundcovering vegetation that can outcompete the grass can help reduce the encroachment. For instance, following a maize crop harvest, legume fallows are encouraged to control the grass infestations.
Maintaining a vigorous and healthy lawn is another effective strategy against
Effective control can also be achieved through application of selective or non-selective chemical herbicides for perennial grasses. However, the application strategy depends on the type of area infested.
The most recommended herbicides include glyphosate, fluazifop, oryzalin, prodiamine, or pendimethalin.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.