Halfa Grass

Desmostachya bipinnata

"Desmostachya bipinnata", commonly known as halfa grass, big cordgrass, and salt reed-grass, is an Old World perennial grass, long known and used in human history. The grass is tall, tufted, leafy, perennial grass, branching from the base, erect from a stout creeping rootstock.
Desmostachya bipinnata One of the typical coastal sand-grasses, used to be very common in Israel, but since most of the coastal areas were built, it is now much less common.... Desmostachya bipinnata,Fall,Geotagged,Israel

Distribution

"Desmostachya bipinnata" is native to northeast and west tropical, and northern Africa; and countries in the Middle East, and temperate and tropical Asia.

In agriculture, "Desmostachya bipinnata" is a weed commonly found in wheat crops.

Uses

Rope made from this grass was found in the Khufu ship. As well as the usual uses for mooring etc, the rope had been used as part of the ship's construction and had held it together.

In folk medicine, Desmostachya bipinnata has been used to treat dysentery and menorrhagia, and as a diuretic.

In arid regions, "Desmostachya bipinnata" is used as fodder for livestock.

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassMonocots
OrderPoales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusDesmostachya
SpeciesD. bipinnata
Photographed in
Israel