BEnTroS
DATE:  5.Jul.97
TIME: 12:33

* G E N E R A L   D A T A *

Scient. name.....: Pennisetum purpureum
Family...........: Poaceae
Plant height.....: 6
Color of flower..: WHITE

H a b i t u s:
Dense, tall growing grass

C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s:
Deep rooting system (down to 4,5 m), fast growing, 
adventitious roots, drought tolerant, on acid soils 
as well as on alcaline soils, wide pH-range (4,3-8,2), 
wide precipitation range (200-4000), prefers clayey 
organic soils.

R a n g e   o f   u s e:
Used for shelter and windbreak, withstands temporary 
waterlogging and flooding, yields mulch material; used 
for ground stabilization and as a fodder crop (juvenile 
phase) and as paper material. One of the most profitable 
species of the tropics; combination possible with 
Centrosema pubescens; poor production of seeds.

L i t r a t u r e:
Schiechtl, H. M. 1980; Rehm, S. and Espig, G. 1984; 
Brücher, H. 1977; Franke, W. 1989; Franke, G. 1982; 
Duke, J. 1986; Schultze-Motel, J. 1966; Mabberley, D.J. 1990; 
Willis, J.C. 1966; IAT, Universit„t G”ttingen 1994

B I O L O G I C A L   E N G I N E E R I N G   D A T A
Erosion control.....: YES
Ground stabilisation: 
Initial regreening..: YES
Reforestation.......: 
Hedges/windbreaks...: 
MPTS services.......: 
Agroforestry........: 
Other uses..........: YES

* S P E C I A L   D A T A *

C O M M O N   N A M E S
Elefantengras
elephant grass
herbe … ‚l‚phant
napier fodder grass

L I F E Z O N E S
Td
Tw

R E G I O N S  O F  D I V E R S I T Y
African Region

H A B I T / S I T E
flooding zones
waterlogged soils

L I F E S T Y L E
grass

P R O P A G A T I O N
generative and vegetative

U T I L I S A T I O N
leaves

B I O L O G I C A L  E N G I N E E R I N G
erosion control
initial regreening
surface soil cover

C O N S T R U C T I O N S
preseeded mat
rhizome stocking
straw mulch seeding