Characteristics of elephant grass
What are the four uses of elephant grass?
The considerable advantages of Elephant grass include ease of growth, having a longer lifespan, not needing pesticides or fertilisers and are low maintenance. It is primarily used to manufacture paper, handicraft articles, charcoal, oil and bio-fuel.
What is the classification of elephant grass?
Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Species Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.
| Rank | Scientific Name and Common Name |
|---|---|
| Order | Cyperales |
| Family | Poaceae Barnhart – Grass family |
| Genus | Pennisetum Rich. ex Pers. – fountaingrassP |
| Species | Pennisetum purpureum Schumach. – elephant grassP |
What is the morphology of elephant grass?
Morphology. Elephant grass is a robust, rhizomatous, tufted perennial grass. It has a vigourous root system, developing from the nodes of its creeping stolons. The culms are coarse, perennial, and may be up to 4-7 m in height, branched above.
How does elephant grass grow?
The grass reproduces mainly through its rhizomes (root-like underground stems that produce roots below and sends up shoots to the surface). Elephant grass can be very invasive and clogs the natural waterways of Florida which have to be cleared periodically.
Why is it called elephant grass?
Its ease of regeneration and high productivity make it perfect for the feeding of cattle, amongst other crop-eating creatures. It is also an essential source of forage for elephants throughout Africa, hence its name “elephant grass”.
What is another name for elephant grass?
Cenchrus purpureus, synonym Pennisetum purpureum, also known as Napier grass, elephant grass or Uganda grass, is a species of perennial tropical grass native to the African grasslands.
What adaptations does elephant grass have?
The elephant adaption that the shallow roots allow the elephant grass to absorb water really quickly. The elephant grass has hairy, course blades and sharp edges that keep predators from eating the plant. The sharp edges help protect the birds nesting inside the grass from predators.
How fast does elephant grass spread?
A fast-growing plant, under favourable conditions it can reach a height of several metres within 60 days[418 ].
What is the characteristics of napier grass?
Napier grass possesses many desirable characteristics, including high yield per unit area, tolerance to intermittent drought and high water use efficiency [2], making it a forage of choice. It has the ability to withstand repeated cutting and will rapidly regenerate, producing palatable leafy shoots [4].
Is elephant grass an invasive species?
Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum),): Also called elephant grass, is an invasive, cane-like grass. It grows in a wide range of soils and in many different habitats. It can grow in wetlands but is also very drought tolerant. Napier grass hinders flood control and water flow by growing densely in ditches and canals.
What is the scientific name of Paragrass?
Urochloa mutica (para grass)
Is elephant grass a perennial or annual?
perennial grass
Pennisetum purpureum, often commonly called napier grass, cane grass or elephant grass, is a large, tender perennial grass native to tropical and sub-Saharan Africa but has been widely introduced to tropical and subtropical regions around world as a forage crop and ornamental grass.
Is elephant grass edible?
Summary. A clumping perennial grass to 4 m, native to tropical Africa, this grass is fairly tolerant of different soil conditions and remarkably drought tolerant for a plant of high rainfall areas. As a carbon farming solutions plant it is an excellent biomass Industrial Crop. It is also edible.
Is elephant grass good for cattle?
DENMARK – It is a fantastic grass, the fast-growing and lush Elephant grass. Harvested several times a year and chopped to pieces, it is an important fodder source for cattle on many small farms in Uganda and other countries in East Africa – typically farms that are so small they only have one cow.
How do you control elephant grass?
Herbicide control
Glyphosate can be used to control elephant grass under General Weed Control Section under PERMIT 11463. Read label carefully before use. Always use herbicide in accordance with directions on label.
What is the nutrient of elephant grass?
Crude protein
The range of protein content of elephant grass varies from 4.4 to 20.4% with the mean around 12% (Table 1). This value is not too different from the report of Xie et al (2009) that crude protein of elephant grass ranged from 4 – 15%.
Which plant is also known as king of grass?
The grass grows tall and forms large clumps like bamboo.It produces huge biomass and can be harvested multiple times in a year which making it a good raw material. Napier grass is an improved fodder grass that produces a lot of high-protein forage. It is also known as “elephant grass”, “Sudan grass” or “king grass”.