Cenchrus violaceus
(Lam.) Morrone
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(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Marco Schmidt
Description
An annual grass in the Poaceae family growing 60-120 cm high. It is found in subtropical deserts and dry scrubland.
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Edible Uses
The genus includes pearl millet (P. glaucum), an important food crop. Napier grass (P. purpureum) is used for grazing livestock in Africa. Several species are cultivated as ornamental plants, notably P. advena, P. alopecuroides, P. orientale, P. setaceum, and P. villosum. The cultivar 'Fairy Tails' is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in the desert and in dry scrubland.
Where It Grows
Africa, Algeria, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sahara, Sahel, Senegal, South America, Sudan,
Synonyms
References (1)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
