Kangaroo Grass (aka. Red Oat Grass, Rooigrass; Themeda triandra) is a tussock-forming grass that is widely distributed including Africa, Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
Kangaroo Grass grows in bunches up to 4 feet tall and produces brownish-red spikelets in summer, giving a red hue to the pastures in which it is growing.
Occasionally, Kangaroo Grass is used as an ornamental plant, useful in rock gardens; it is drought and fire-tolerant and it is adaptable to many soils and climates. It is also useful for attracting birds to the garden, because it serves as a food source for several wild bird species.
Kangaroo Grass is palatable to grazing when it is young, and it serves as a famine food in Africa for humans, as well as bush tucker by the Aboriginal People of Australia, where the seeds are ground, formed into cakes and baked.
As only portions of the seed come mature at one time, however, it is difficult to gather large amounts at once.
Kangaroo Grass is also used as a fiber (from the leaf and stem) for making fishing nets, as well as for hut-building, paper and thatch.
As it has an extensive deep root system, it is also valuable for soil stabilization and erosion control in land restoration projects.
Strangely, it is also used as an indicator for suitable land for growing pineapple in South Africa.
In traditional medicine, Kangaroo Grass has been used by Indigenous Australian and African communities to treat wounds, sore throats, toothaches, dysmenorrhea and digestive issues. Decoctions of the leaves were applied as poultices for skin infections, while infusions were consumed for their purported anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Some cultures also used the grass for respiratory ailments and as a general tonic.
With the hardiness and adaptability of this plant, and the fact that it has already long been used as a food for humans, I wonder if this could be a grain of the future with the help of a little plant breeding.
A study published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology investigated the antioxidant and wound-healing properties of Themeda triandra extracts, revealing that bioactive compounds in the leaves accelerated tissue regeneration and reduced oxidative stress.
Another study highlighted its potential as a natural forage enhancer, showing that livestock fed on kangaroo grass had improved digestion efficiency due to its rich polyphenol content.
#agriculture #aboriginal #australia
**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.