Elephant grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Elephant grass
• Morrone
• Uganda grass
• Napier Grass
• Merker grass
• barner grass
• M'Fufu Grass
• Napier Fodder
• Umfufu Grass
• cane grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pennisetum purpureum subsp. benthamii
• Pennisetum purpureum subsp. flexispica
• Gymnotrix nitens
• Pennisetum pruinosum
• Pennisetum blepharideum
• Pennisetum flexispica
• Pennisetum benthamii
• Pennisetum benthamii var. nudum
• Pennisetum flavicomum
• Pennisetum hainanense
• Pennisetum gossweileri
• Pennisetum macrostachyum
• Pennisetum lachnorrhachis
• Pennisetum purpureum
• Pennisetum nitens
• Pennisetum pallescens
• Pennisetum benthamii var. sambesiense
• Pennisetum benthamii var. ternatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Poales and the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Cenchrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented in both Algeria and Morocco. The species also extends into the Macaronesian islands, specifically inhabiting the Canary Islands and Madeira. Furthermore, its range reaches into West Tropical Africa, where it can be found in Benin. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in varied coastal and tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cenchrus purpureus is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and varying topographic gradients. It is found across a wide elevational range, extending from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational occurrence of approximately 1135 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are diverse, allowing it to thrive in both natural and modified landscapes; it is commonly distributed within Anthropogenic Areas (Área Antrópica), the Cerrado (latu sensu), Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), and Mixed Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila Mista).

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1135 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Life history

The life history of Cenchrus purpureus is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a complex morphological strategy, functioning as both a chamaemphyte and a geophyte, which indicates that its buds are located near or just above the soil surface and it possesses specialized underground structures for survival. Throughout its life, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its photosynthetic tissues remain active and functional without the need for seasonal leaf shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cenchrus purpureus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit and displays an ascending shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it varies significantly in size, with a minimum plant height of 1 m, a maximum height of 8 m, and an average plant height of approximately 3.33 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

3.33333333333333 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cenchrus purpureus is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows the plant to optimize carbon fixation and maintain productivity in high-temperature or arid environments. Morphologically, the plant exhibits significant variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 30 cm to a maximum of 120 cm. The leaf width also shows a specific range, maintaining a minimum of 2 cm, a mean of 2.5 cm, and reaching a maximum of 4 cm. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategy, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

120 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cenchrus purpureus involves a complex combination of sexual and asexual processes, with asexual reproduction being present to aid in its propagation. The flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable. During this phase, the plant produces inflorescences in the form of panicles, which range in length from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.3 m. The individual flowers are relatively small, with lengths measuring between 0.5 cm and 0.7 cm. Pollination is characterized as an abiotic process, specifically utilizing a wind-driven syndrome to facilitate fertilization. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces dry fruits containing seeds. These seeds are notably small, with a mean mass of 0.00043875 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00028 g to a maximum of 0.00091 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.48 mm³. To ensure widespread distribution, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on the wind to transport its lightweight seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower length max:

0.7 cm

Flower length min:

0.5 cm

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

dry

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.3 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.07 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass max:

0.00091 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00043875 g

Seed mass min:

0.00028 g

Seed volume max:

0.48 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cenchrus purpureus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
2. Heliyon

Chemicals

Cenchrus purpureus has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Glycoside, Nitrates, SAPONIN, Steroids.

Flavonoid

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Glycoside

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Nitrates

1. Journal of toxicology

SAPONIN

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Steroids

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Tannin

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Terpenoids

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Activities

Cenchrus purpureus has 3 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial.

Antibacterial

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Antioxidant

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Antiplasmodial

1. Heliyon

Preparations