''Echinochloa pyramidalis'' is a species of large grass, occurring naturally in flooded regions and beside lakes in tropical Africa and America, and introduced to various other countries. It is commonly known as antelope grass.

Description

''Echinochloa pyramidalis'' is a large, perennial, reed-like grass growing to a height of about or even taller. The stems are solid and roots grow from the lower nodes. The leaves are stiff and blade-shaped and up to long, the

ligule A ligule (from "strap", variant of ''lingula'', from ''lingua'' "tongue") is a thin outgrowth at the junction of leaf and leafstalk of many grasses (Poaceae) and sedges. A ligule is also a strap-shaped extension of the corolla, such as that of a ...

s of the lower leaves having a fringe of short hairs round the margin which are absent from those of the upper leaves. The leaf sheaths can be either hairy or glabrous (hairless). The inflorescence has a central axis some long, the

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s on either side being up to long and bearing short-stalked, purplish, acute, awnless spikelets some long. This is a strong-growing plant with a fasciculated (arranged in bundles) root system and in suitable localities, forms dense stands of even height.

Distribution and habitat

''Echinochloa pyramidalis'' is native to tropical and subtropical Africa. It is found throughout the continent in seasonally inundated grassland, swamps, river and lake edges. It grows well in black clay, and is moderately tolerant of anoxic conditions. It forms a substantial part of the vegetation in the

Sudd The Sudd (' or ', Dinka language, Dinka: Toc) is a vast swamp in South Sudan, formed by the White Nile's ''Mountain Nile, Baḥr al-Jabal'' section. The Arabic language, Arabic word ' is derived from ' (), meaning "barrier" or "obstruction". The ...

, the vast swamp in South Sudan through which the

White Nile The White Nile ( ar, النيل الأبيض ') is a river in Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, the other being the Blue Nile. The name comes from the clay sediment carried in the water that changes the water to a pale color. ...

passes. It has been introduced to other areas of the world as a fodder crop and has not in general become naturalised. Its altitudinal range is .

Uses

''Echinochloa pyramidalis'' is palatable to livestock and is cultivated for

fodder Fodder (), also called provender (), is any agriculture, agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, domestic rabbit, rabbits, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. "Fodder" refers particularly to food g ...

, being able to withstand heavy grazing; it grows during the wet season, dying back to the base during the dry season, but will resprout vigorously after wildfires, even in the middle of the dry season. It can be made into hay, but for this purpose the glabrous varieties are chosen. The grain is sometimes used for human consumption. This grass can be used to prevent erosion on river banks prone to flooding and on earth dams. It can be used in a similar way to reeds for sewage control. Where it has become

invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...

, as for example in Mexico and Guyana, it reduces biodiversity and grows so vigorously that it displaces native plants.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15507853 pyramidalis