Poaceae FAMILY
Cenchrus polystachios
Cenchrus polystachios
Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
Cenchrus polystachios is a clump-forming, annual or perennial grass. The culms are geniculately ascending, they can be simple or branched, with the branches often flowering, and are 30 - 200cm long. It has been said that the plant is annual in Africa and Asia, but is perennial in the Americas[ 413 Title Global Invasive Species Database Publication Author Website http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range. ]. The plant is sometimes used for soil stabilization, whilst the dried culms can be used for paper production.
Habitat & Origin
Origintropical
Native RangeWidespread through tropical Africa, Arabian Pininsula, Indian Ocean to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
HabitatGrassland on sandy soils[ 375 Title Grassland Species - Profiles Publication Author Website http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/Default.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse information on over 650 species of plants that grow in grassland, including trees, shrubs and perennial plants as well as grasses. Gives a brief description of the plant, its range and habitat and some of its uses. ]. Disturbed areas including roadsides, degraded pastures and waste sites[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. ].