''Cenchrus pennisetiformis'', commonly known in Australia as the Cloncurry, white or slender buffel grass, is a species of grass in the genus ''

Cenchrus ''Cenchrus'' is a widespread genus of plants in the grass family. Its species are native to many countries in Asia, Africa, Australia, the Americas, and various oceanic islands. Common names include buffelgrasses, sandburs, and sand spur “sti ...

''. It is native to parts of East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent, and has been introduced to some other parts of the world as a drought-tolerant forage crop.

Description

''Cenchrus pennisetiformis'' is an annual or perennial

bunchgrass Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial ...

, sometimes spreading by means of

stolon In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...

s. The stems are sometimes branched and are up to high. The leaf blades are flat, long by wide, and the inflorescences long by wide, not including the soft bristles. The outer bristles are short and slender and the inner ones rather broader and some long.

Distribution

''Cenchrus pennisetiformis'' is native to East Africa where it is found in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, and to western Asia, where it occurs in Southern Iran, Yemen, India and Pakistan. It is naturalised in northwestern Australia, where it has spread along the banks of watercourses replacing native species of grass. It is also found in the Mediterranean region, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, although it is unclear whether it is native to these areas or has been naturalised.

Cultivation and use

''C. pennisetiformis'' is a grass suited to growing in arid and semi-arid environments because it remains green and palatable even in the dry season. It grows best on light sandy or silty soils, in either full sun or partial shade, but cannot tolerate heavy, cracking clays. It can withstand moderate frosts and will survive temporary flooding. In Pakistan there are areas with very low rainfall (under annually), saline soils and a shortage of water for

irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow Crop, crops, Landscape plant, landscape plants, and Lawn, lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,00 ...

. Several species of grasses including ''C. pennisetiformis'', ''

Diplachne fusca ''Diplachne fusca'', called bearded sprangletop, is a widespread species of grass in the genus ''Diplachne'', native to North America, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, and introduced in Europe, New Zealand and Hawaii, ...

'', ''

Panicum turgidum ''Panicum turgidum'' is an old world clumping desert bunchgrass of the genus ''Panicum''. It is a plant of arid regions across Africa and Asia, and has been introduced to other parts of the world. Description ''Panicum turgidum'' is a perennial ...

'' and '' Pennisetum divisum'' are able to provide good grazing for livestock and even dairy enterprises in these areas. Research has shown that ''C. pennisetiformis'' and ''P. turgidum'' produce the most forage under drought conditions, and are able to tolerate moderate levels of salinity in the subsoil groundwater, and irrigation with this brackish water.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15511860 pennisetiformis Flora of Africa