Birdwood grass
Cenchrus setigerus

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A wiry tussocky grass. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a short rhizome. It has a bulbous base. The stems can be 1.5 m high. The leaf sheaths are loose. The ligule is short and has a fringe of dense hairs. The leaf blade in long and narrow. It can be folded or flat. The flowering stalk is a dense cylinder shaped panicle. It is purple when mature. It is 5-9 cm long and has zigzag stems. The seeds can be light green are dark purple.

There are about 23 Cenchrus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on alluvial soils and gravels. It suits sandy and light textured soils. It responds quickly to light rains. It grows in tropical and temperate places. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 125-1,250 mm. It grows from sea level to 1,100 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Britain, China, Djibouti, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Oman, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Africa, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Yemen

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten mixed with millet for bread. The seed are also eaten raw.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kata -dhaman, Motha dhaman

Synonyms

Cenchrus biflorus of Hook. f.; Cenchrus bulbifer Hochst. ex Boiss.; Cenchrus montanus Nees ex Royle; Cenchrus uniflorus Ehr. ex Boiss.; Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link var. setigerum (Vahl) Leeke; Pennisetum vahlii Kunth;