Several Cymbopogon species are called 'turpentine grass', including C. excavatus (broad leaved turpentine grass) and C. plurinodis (narrow leaved or bushveld turpentine grass), either of which may be the species in picture.   Both are unpalatable, poor grazing grasses because of a bitter taste; both occur widely across Africa and South Africa. Turpentine grass often grows along roadsides.

It is used for thatching