Bio indicator
Red grass is an indicator of veld being in a good condition: it quickly disappears if overgrazing occurs (SANBI, 2011; Quattrocchi, 2006; Heady, 1966). Red oat grass is a fire climax species, one of the first plants to grow after a fire, and all the more resistant to fire if it is burnt regularly and not overgrazed after germination (SANBI, 2011).
Red oat grass is also a pioneer plant in termite mounds (Smith et al., 1998).