Pennisetum macrostachyum

Cenchrus purpureus

Native to:
Aldabra, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Cenchrus
Species:
Cenchrus purpureus
USDA Symbol:
PEMA22

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
450 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep,oct
Bloom Colors:
purple, tan

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from the root crown after fire or cutting; commonly used in fire-prone tropical and subtropical regions.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions; primarily propagated vegetatively via stem cuttings or divisions.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI