Poaceae FAMILY

Cenchrus americanus

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Cenchrus americanus is a vigorous, erect, freely tillering, tufted, annual grass with an extremely profuse root system. It can grow from 0.5 - 4 metres tall with leaves that can be 1 metre long on slender stems 1 - 3cm in diameter[ 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. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. Pearl millet was first domesticated in the Sahel 2 - 3,000 BC., being derived from Pennisetum violaceum. Its cultivation spread gradually from there and now the plant is cultivated for its edible seed in tropical and sub-tropical areas through much of the world[ 61 Title A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Publication Author Usher. G. Publisher Constable Year 1974 ISBN 0094579202 Description Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader. , 142 Title Plants Consumed by Man. Publication Author Brouk. B. Publisher Academic Press Year 1975 ISBN 0-12-136450-x Description Readable but not very comprehensive. ]. It is a staple food for over 100,000,000 people, especially in parts of tropical Africa and India where it is too hot, dry and sandy for sorghum production[ 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. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The plant is especially suited to regions with a short growing season[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeProbably indigenous to the western Sahel zone in Africa[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ].

HabitatRiver banks in sandy soils, common as a weed[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].