Poaceae FAMILY

Cenchrus biflorus

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant's spiny inflorescences may injure humans and grazing animals[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. The reflexed hooks of the bristles on the burs of the inflorescence are pungent and adhere to clothing and pierce the skin[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ].

Botanical Description

Cenchrus biflorus is a loosely tufted, annual grass, with ascending stems (culms), growing up to 1 metre tall[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is a very nutritious food, especially valuable in years where drought leads to the failure of cultivated crops.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeAfrica - through most of the continent from Algeria and Egypt south to S. Africa and Madagascar; through the Arabian Peninsula to Pakistan and India.

HabitatUsually found on dry sandy soils and in cultivated, overgrazed or otherwise disturbed areas, at elevations up to 1,300 metres. It is extremely abundant in the Sahel and southern Sahara, where it may form massive stands[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ].