Birdwood Grass
Cenchrus setiger
- Native to:
- Algeria, Andaman Is., Burkina, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gulf States, India, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen
Mark Marathon
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Cenchrus
- Species:
- Cenchrus setiger
- USDA Symbol:
- CESE10
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
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 following fire. Commonly used in arid rangeland restoration where fire is part of the management regime.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Germinates readily under warm conditions with adequate moisture. Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI