Cenchrus ciliaris
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| Cenchrus ciliaris | ||||||||||||||||
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| Cenchrus ciliaris L. |
Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel Grass or African Foxtail Grass; syn. Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link) is a species of grass native to most of Africa, southern Asia (east to India), Southern Iran, and the extreme south of Europe (Sicily).[1]
It is a perennial grass growing to 50 cm tall. The leaves are linear, 3–25 cm long and 4–10 mm wide. The flowers are produced in a panicle 2–14 cm long and 1–2.6 cm wide.[2]
[edit] As an invasive species
Cenchrus ciliaris has become naturalised and often an invasive species in Australia, the southwestern United States, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, South America, and Macaronesia.[1] In the Sonoran Desert it was introduced for erosion control. In the Mexico part of the Sonoran Desert it is still being planted and irrigated for livestock grazing. It spreads very quickly and will often kill local native plants such as palo verdes by taking away nearby water. This plant has a very low ignition threshold and can burst into a raging flame even during the peak growing season. Its flammability and quick regrowth allow it to compete successfully against almost all vegetation in this region.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Germplasm Resources Information Network: Cenchrus ciliaris
- ^ Clayton, W.D., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). Cenchrus ciliaris. GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ Desert Museum:Buffelgrass
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