I saw someone mention using Pampas Grass as tinder and have been meaning to give it a try. We have it growing on both sides of our house as a decorative. Since it's winter, I figured my wife wouldn't mind if I broke off a few of the dead tops.
Now, I generally have not had much luck with lighting natural tinders with a firesteel before (apart from finely shaved fatwood).
I took about a fist sized piece of one of the heads of Pampas grass, fluffed it up ever so slightly, placed it on the ground, and gave it one shot from my firesteel. It burst into flames. I usually need 2-4 strikes to get PJ soaked cotton balls or fatwood to light. The only thing I can get to cosistently light on the first strike before this was dryer lint. This stuff is EASILY as flammable, if not more so, than dryer lint, and burns ferociously.
Here are some pics I dug up on the net as I don't have my camera handy.
Now, I generally have not had much luck with lighting natural tinders with a firesteel before (apart from finely shaved fatwood).
I took about a fist sized piece of one of the heads of Pampas grass, fluffed it up ever so slightly, placed it on the ground, and gave it one shot from my firesteel. It burst into flames. I usually need 2-4 strikes to get PJ soaked cotton balls or fatwood to light. The only thing I can get to cosistently light on the first strike before this was dryer lint. This stuff is EASILY as flammable, if not more so, than dryer lint, and burns ferociously.
Here are some pics I dug up on the net as I don't have my camera handy.