Description
Elephant grass (scientific name: Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is a large perennial clump herbaceous plant of the Gramineae and Panicum tribe, often with underground stems. The culms are erect, up to 4 meters high, and the leaf sheaths are smooth or warty; the tongue is short, the leaf blades are linear, flat, and hard, with sparse bristles on the top, no hair on the bottom, and rough edges. Panicles; main shaft densely pilose, bristles golden yellow, light brown or purple, growing pilose and feathery; spikelets are lanceolate, nearly sessile, with inconspicuous veins; anthers with vellus hairs; style bases are united. The blades are cylindrical and thick. Flower and fruit period from August to October.
Native to Africa. Introduced and cultivated to India, Burma, Oceania and America. Introduction and cultivation have been successful in Jiangxi, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places in China.
Elephant grass is an excellent fodder with great variability.
