Blue buffalo grass

Blue-buffalo grass (Cenchrus ciliarus) is a 'tufted perennial' instantly recognised by a purplish-tinged inflorescence. Individual spikelets or 'flowers of grasses' are ringed by a thick arrangement of long, stiff hairs, which give the flower-head a gentle, feathery appearance. It can be found in disturbed habitats such as riverbeds, not to mention rocky slopes and plains.

It is common in southern Africa and occurs in small numbers in the central Namib. There are 2 species of Cenchrus in Namibia and it provides good grazing and is popular as a pasture grass around the world.