halfa grass

Meaning

Noun

• A north African and south Asian grass, Desmostachya bipinnata (species), with tough stems woven into rope, sandals, mats, etc., and sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions.
• Other north African grasses with similar uses, such as sparto (Stipa tenacissima (species) and Lygeum sparticum (species)) and cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)

Origin

• From Arabic حَلْفَا.