Brachiaria comata

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual grass. It forms loose tufts. It grows 60 cm high. It can lie along the ground or form mats. The leaves are rough and have teeth along the edge.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in deciduous bush-land in west Africa. It grows in dry sandy soil. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 500 mm. It grows between 600-2,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Middle East, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen

How it is used for food

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Omafe, Saba kushu

Synonyms

Brachiaria kotschyana (Hochst.) Stapf; Urochloa comata (A. Rich.) Sosef; and others