Food - Young inflorescence and young shoots are cooked and consumed. Root - fibrous but pleasant to chew, containing starch and sugar. The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute. Medicine - The flowers and roots of have antibacterial, diuretic, emollient, febrifuge, and tonic properties. Wood - Construction: The plant can also be used in construction and as fibre; the stems are used for thatching, the leaves for paper-making, weaving mats, bags and raincoats. Eco-restoration- Can be planted on sandy soils to prevent erosion. The plants form impenetrably dense clumps and when planted close together in drifts make an excellent ground cover.
Afghanistan
Temperate biome.
Perennial herb 1.5 m tall.
Erect, slender, and often reddish at the base.
Long, narrow, and tough, with sharp edges.
Silvery-white, plume-like inflorescences.
A small, dry fruit called a caryopsis. This is typical of grasses.
Flowering: Spring-Early summer.