Desmostachya bipinnata, Eragrostis bipinnata, Halfa grass,
Big cordgrass, Salt reed-grass,
Hebrew: חילף החולות, Arabic: حلفا, Egypt: حلفا "Halfa"

Scientific name:		Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf
Synonym name:		Eragrostis bipinnata (L.) Schum.
Common name:		Halfa grass, Big cordgrass, Salt reed-grass
Hebrew name:		חילף החולות
Arabic name:		حلفا
Egypt:		حلفا "Halfa"
Plant Family:		Graminea (Poaceae), Grass Family, משפחת הדגניים

Life form:		hemicryptophyte
Spinescence:		Leaves
Stems:		50–100 cm long, culms, erect stout
Leaves:		Alternate, rosette, entire, smooth, spinescent
Flowers:		Green, purple
Fruits / pods:		Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; trigonous
Flowering Period:		June, July, August, September, October
Habitat:		Sand
Distribution:		Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:		Sudanian
Summer shedding:		Perennating

Location: Netanya, the Dora rain pool Derivation of the botanical name: Desmostachya, desmos Greek), "binding material" and stachys, stachus, στάχυς, "a spike", in reference to the inflorescence. bipinnate, bi, "twice", pinnat, "feathered, winged"; twice feathered The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy. The standard author abbreviation Stapf is used to indicate Otto Stapf (1857 – 1933), an Austrian born botanist. The standard author abbreviation Schum. is used to indicate Julius (Heinrich Karl) Schumann (1810 - 1868), a German botanist. The ropes on the Solar Boat/Funerary Boat of Cheops (Khufu) at Giza, Egypt, were made of Desmotachya bipinnata. The wooden parts were joined by rope from the inside. The boats would absorb water and then the ropes would swell, causing them to seal and close up. Location: Netanya, the Dora rain pool