The first tuft of South African Cocksfoot grass (Tetrachne dregei) found on Karoo Ridge Conservancy was in a very unlikely place, on the side of a road, and was literally ONE tuft. Even so – great excitement! Out came the GPS and the smallest sample was taken to check under the microscope that it really was what we thought it was!

South African Cocksfoot is the only species in it’s genus and has very limited distribution in South Africa. The few times I have seen it in Karoo veld it has been growing alongside Daba grass (Miscanthus capensis) and Wormwood (Artemisa afra) along rivers and in vleis. It is an important grass and is the best grazing grass in it’s distribution. It very nearly became extinct due to overgrazing. With the loss of natural  vlei areas came the loss of the grass.

We are finding more and more of it on the Conservancy in our vlei areas and are ecstatic!