Tangle head Grass
Heteropogon contortus
Also known as Spear grass
About Tangle head Grass
Heteropogon contortus is a tropical, perennial tussock grass with a native distribution encompassing Southern Africa, southern Asia, Northern Australia, Oceania, and southwestern North America. The species has also become a naturalised weed in tropical and subtropical regions in the Americas and East Asia. The plant grows to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height and is favoured in most environments by frequent burning. The plants develop characteristic dark seeds with a single long awn at one end and a sharp spike at the other. The awn becomes twisted when dry and straightens when moistened, and in combination with the spike is capable of drilling the seed into the soil.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Heteropogon contortus
- Genus
- Heteropogon
- Family
- POACEAE
- Habit
- Herb
- Habitat
- Open deciduous forests
- Native to
- Pantropical
- Distribution
- Tropical and warm Temperate regions
- Flowering & fruiting
- July-December
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Local Names
- Nepali
- अर्थुङ्गे (वनस्पति), अर्थुङ्गे
- Kannada
- Kaarda hullu, Kariunugada hullu, Nanju hullu
- Marathi
- Gantegawta, Kantegawta
Poaceae
Grass family
Tangle head Grass belongs to the Poaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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