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Graminae
Common names
Crowfoot grass (Africa), beach wire-grass (Hawaii), kra lekrab
(Mauritania), giant button grass.
Description
A glaucous annual with culms up to 50 cm high, not stoloniferous,
but often rooting from the lower nodes; leaves usually hairy on the margins
and midrib, the hairs tubercle-based; usually four to eight spikes, rarely
one to three, 1.5 to 6.5 cm long; spikelets 4 mm long, usually three-flowered.
The stout spikes and rigid awns are rather distinctive. Eleusine can be
distinguished from Dactyloctenium because it is awnless.
Distribution
Throughout tropical Africa, introduced into America.
Rainfall requirements
It generally occurs in a rainfall regime of 400-1 500 mm.
Drought tolerance
One of the most drought-resistant grasses because of its rapid
growth and seeding each wet season, even if of short duration.
Soil requirements
It is adapted to soils of a wide range of textures.
Land preparation for establishment
Some soil disturbance such as discing is generally necessary.
Sowing methods
For reseeding rangeland in Kenya the seed has been broadcast
on to uncultivated land among cut branches, and on to harrowed land.
Sowing depth and cover
It is surface sown and protected by branches, mulch or a light
harrowing.
Sowing time and rate
It is sown just ahead of the wet season at 0.25 kg/ha of spikelets
(Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Number of seeds per kg.
About 1.25 million spikelets or 2.7 million loose caryopses
(Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Vigour of growth and growth
rhythm
It flowers in August in the Sahel and remains as standing hay
into February (Boudet & Duverger, 1961).
Suitability for hay and
silage
It makes excellent hay.
Toxicity
It is rich in cyanogenetic glucosides at times and may be a
danger to grazing stock.
Main attributes
A quick- growing, short-term grazing plant which colonizes
disturbed land.
Main deficiencies
Its annual nature.
Palatability
It is quite a palatable grass.
Natural habitat
Usually occurs on disturbed areas, especially in sandy soils.
Genetics and reproduction
2n=20, 34, 36, 48 (Fedorov, 1974).
Seed production and harvesting
It seeds heavily. Most of the seed to date has been hand harvested,
but it lends itself to combine heading.
Economics
Sometimes used as a food grain in times of scarcity in India
and Africa but is said to have an unpleasant taste and to cause internal
disorders (Bor, 1960).
Animal production
No figures have been cited, but it is a useful, spontaneously
growing component of pastures for grazing stock.
Further reading
Bogdan & Pratt, 1967.
Tolerance to salinity
It is tolerant of alkaline soils (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Altitude limits
Sea-level to 2 000 m.
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