Cradle of Humankind in bloom – Common finger grass

Featuring several hundred plant species, including wild flowers and grasses, towering succulents, rare blooms and many medicinal buds, the Cradle of Humankind represents one of the most diverse plant communities in the world.

The landscape is dominated by rocky Highveld grassland, vegetation made up of rocky slopes, grassy outcrops, and plains of shale and dolomite. Here fire plays an important role in maintaining the balance of trees and grass.

Common finger grass is a tufted perennial that grows throughout the Cradle. The Latin name of the grass – Digitaria eriantha – refers to its hand-like appearance.

Resembling a grassy hand with fingers splayed, the grass grows with one or two whorls at the top end, each sporting three to 15 “finger” spikes.

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