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Graminae
Synonyms
E. simplex (Schumach. ex Thorn.).
Common names
Bush rye (Kenya), mopane grass (Zimbabwe).
Description
Tufted annual or perennial about 90 cm high. Spikes solitary,
about 15 cm long with glabrous spikelets 8-10 mm long; lemmas 2-3, awned.
Leaves are scattered along the culm and the leaf-blades fold readily when
dry, and are very finely pointed. They have a tuft of fine white hairs
in the axil.
Distribution
Throughout tropical Africa. Abundant between Sultan Hamud and
Voi, Kenya (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967) and on Kongwa ranch, Tanzania (van
Rensburg, 1969).
Season of growth
Summer.
Altitude range
Sea-level to 1 800 m.
Rainfall requirements
It occurs in an area receiving around 575 mm per annum (Bogdan
& Pratt, 1967).
Drought tolerance
Good.
Soil requirements
It prefers loose sandy loams and loams, but will grow on alluvial
silts and rocky soils (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Sowing time and rate
Sow in the wet season at 7 kg/ha.
Number of seeds per kg.
176 000 spikelets with one seed each (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Palatability
It is palatable.
Vigour of growth
It germinates readily and grows vigorously. In the Sahel it
flowers in August and remains as standing hay through to February in Mauritania
(Boudet & Duverger, 1961).
Natural habitat
Grassland and rocky outcrops in semi-arid climates.
Seed production and harvesting
It is a very good seeder and seed can be collected rapidly
by cutting the seed-heads or stripping the heads by hand (Bogdan &
Pratt, 1967). It should lend itself easily to mechanical harvesting.
Economics
It has proved an excellent grass for reseeding the rangelands
of Kenya under moderately dry conditions, as has been demonstrated in Baringo
(Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Further reading
Bogdan & Pratt, 1967.
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