The carabao grass is a kind of grass that is very common in the American tropics and tropical

countries especially in Southeast Asia. It can be found in abundance in countries like the
Philippines, Indonesia and the Pacific islands. The grass originated from the American
tropics and is eventually naturalized in other tropical nations all over the world. It has a
scientific name of paspalum conjugatum bergius. It is also often referred to as buffalo
grass. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines have varying terms for it. In
Indonesia, they call it either jampang pahit or paitan. In Malaysia, rumput ala negri or
rumput kerbau. In Thailand, ya-hep or ya-nomnon. And in the Philippines, the Tagalogs call
it kulape, the Ilocanos call it kalo-kawayan and the Visayans refer to it as kauat-kauat.

Carabao Grass Description

It's a stoloniferous grass. It vigorously creeps on the ground with long stolons. As it spreads
through the ground, roots will form at the nodes. This allows the grass to branch out
quickly. The leaves are flat, thin and narrow.

The Most Common Uses of Carabao Grass

Although the carabao grass is considered by many as a pesky weed, it has many valuable
uses especially in the agricultural sector. A lot of farms use the grass as forage for grazing.
Almost all types of livestock consider the grass as food – goats, horses, cows and sheep. It
not only provides food for livestock, it is also a great ground cover. It helps prevent open
areas from turning into barren, dry lands.
Some rice and coconut plantations regard the grass as an important weed. It helps keep
balance in the field.
Another very common use of carabao grass is in the landscaping industry. It's a very popular
cover for lawns and gardens.
 Carabao Grass
Other Uses of Carabao Grass
A lot of countries all over the world make use of the grass for other purposes besides ground
cover and source of food for cattle and livestock. Let us look into some of these
miscellaneous uses:
1. In Africa, the leaves of the grass are used to treat pulmonary illnesses, stomach aches,
fever and debility. The roots on the other hand are used to treat dysentery and diarrhea.
2. In Congo, the leaves are combined with other ingredients to produce a vapor bath
believed to be effective against fever.
3. In Trinidad, the use the leaves for fever treatment.
4. In Ecuador, leaf infusions are used for headaches.
5. In Gabon, the leaves are pounded then mixed with another ingredient from another plant
then used as a compress for sprains, contusions and joint dislocations.
6. In Cameroon, the leaves are softened using hot ashes, pulverized in water then utilized
to alleviate dysentery.
7. In Malaysia, leaves are grounded then used as wound paste.
8. In Zaire, the carabao grass is used as an antidote against venom and poison. A decoction
of the whole grass is mixed with oil from another plant and then rubbed on the bitten part
of the body.

Where to Buy Carabao Grass

The most common way to avail of the grass is purchasing them in tiles. Your best option
will be to go to a landscaping store near you. The grass is already grown so all you need to
do is place the tiles in the sections of the ground you want to cover. I'm not very sure if
there are carabao grass seeds that are available commercially.
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