Babui, Sabaigrass
Eulaliopsis binata

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

Eulaliopsis binata is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.6

Where it is found

Dry mountain slopes.

Eastern Asia - Afghanistan, Indian subcontinent, China, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, southern China, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

Agroforestry Uses: Useful for erosion control. Other Uses: The grass is woven into mats, light shoes etc. The plant is a good source of fibre, which is widely used for making sails, ropes and string. The fibre is suitable for papermaking. Pulping is performed under alkaline conditions, and the pulp is often mixed with short-fibred pulps from hardwoods or from agricultural waste material such as rice straw. In the early 1950s E. binata represented about 22% of the total fibrous material pulped in India, but in recent years its use for pulp production has decreased because of limited supply. Plantations have been established to increase production.

Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

E. binata occurs in grassland up to 1400 m altitude. It thrives on well-drained sandy loams with an annual rainfall of 750-1500 mm.

Propagating it: Propagation is best by rootstock division; seedlings raised in nurseries may also be used.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Sabai grass, berveza grass, baib grass (En). Philippines: kaboot (Ilokano, Ibanag), pueng (Bontoc), sangumati (Bukidnon).

Synonyms

Andropogon binatus Retz. Ischaemum angustifolium (Trin.) Hack. Ischaemum binatum (Retz.) B?se ex de Vriese Spodiopogon angustifolius Trin.