Aristida aspera
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Aristida aspera faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and overgrazing by livestock, which degrades the sandy grassland habitats essential for its survival. Urban development and infrastructure projects have fragmented remaining populations, while altered fire regimes disrupt the natural disturbance cycles this grass species requires for regeneration. Climate change compounds these pressures by increasing drought frequency and intensity in its already arid range.
Habitat
Aristida aspera inhabits sandy grasslands, open woodlands, and semi-arid savannas, typically growing in well-drained soils with low nutrient content. This perennial grass thrives in areas with periodic natural disturbances such as fire or moderate grazing pressure.