Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris, Mant. Pl. 2: 302 (1771))

Family: Poaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Mant. Pl. 2: 302 (1771)

Year: 1771

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cenchrus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Sicilia, S. Greece, Africa, Arabian Pen. to Indian Subcontinent

Description

Buffelgrass, scientifically known as Cenchrus ciliaris, is a robust perennial grass belonging to the Poaceae family. First described by the renowned botanist C. Linnaeus in 1771, this grass species thrives in a variety of climates and regions, demonstrating its adaptability and resilience.

Native to areas from the Mediterranean regions of Sicily and Southern Greece, extending through Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and reaching as far as the Indian Subcontinent, Buffelgrass is notably versatile. It has successfully adapted to both arid and semi-arid environments, which has facilitated its spread across diverse geographical landscapes.

The ecological impact of Buffelgrass is significant; it is well-regarded for its utility in grazing systems, where it serves as a vital forage grass for livestock due to its nutritious content and capacity to withstand heavy grazing pressures. However, its aggressive growth and high seed production also pose challenges, as it can outcompete native vegetation, potentially leading to reduced biodiversity in non-native regions where it becomes invasive.

Overall, Buffelgrass is a species of considerable importance both ecologically and economically, with a complex role in the environments it inhabits.

Common Names

Eng: buffelgrass, buffel-grass, buffalo grass, buffel grass, african foxtail grass
Fra: cenchrus cilié
Por: capim-buffel, capim-búfalo, grama-de-anjo, grama-de-búfalo
En: Buffelgrass, Buffel-grass, Buffalo Grass, Buffel Grass, African Foxtail Grass, African Foxtail-grass, African foxtail
Ar: حده (حَدَه)، دراب، حمرى (حِمرى), رجل الغراب (رِجْل الغُراب)، خفور (خَفور), عهبه، ذنب الكلب، يدب, يرب
Fr: Cenchrus cilié
De: Büffelgras, Wimper-Stachelgras
It: Nappola perenne
Pt: Capim-buffel, Capim-búfalo, Grama-de-anjo, Grama-de-búfalo
Es: Pasto Buffel, Buffel, Zacate buffel

Synonyms

• Pennisetum ciliare var. leptostachya (Leeke)
• Cenchrus longifolius (Hochst. ex Steud.)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. longisetosus (Kuntze)
• Pennisetum ciliare var. pallens (Leeke)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. anachoreticus ((Chiov.) Pirotta)
• Cenchrus mutabilis (Wight ex Hook.f.)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. robustior (Penz.)
• Cenchrus ciliaris f. intermedius ((Chiov.) Chiov.)
• Pennisetum panormitanum (Lojac.)
• Pennisetum longifolium (Fenzl ex Steud.)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. leptostachys ((Leeke) Maire & Weiller)
• Pennisetum rangei (Mez)
• Pennisetum ciliare ((L.) Link)
• Cenchrus pennisetiformis var. intermedius (Chiov.)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. villiferus (Fig. & De Not.)
• Cenchrus bulbosus (Fresen. ex Steud.)
• Pennisetum pachycladum (Stapf)
• Pennisetum ciliare var. robustior (Penz.)
• Pennisetum incomptum (Nees ex Steud.)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. nubicus (Fig. & De Not.)
• Pennisetum teneriffae (Steud.)
• Cenchrus glaucus (C.R.Mudaliar & Sundararaj)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. pallens ((Leeke) Maire & Weiller)
• Cenchrus anjania (Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.)
• Pennisetum ciliare var. robustius (Penz.)
• Pennisetum cenchroides (Rich.)
• Pennisetum ciliare var. anachoreticum (Chiov.)
• Cenchrus melanostachyus (A.Camus)
• Cenchrus rufescens (Desf.)
• Pennisetum ciliare var. leptostachys (Leeke)
• Pennisetum cenchroides var. echioides (Hook.f.)
• Pennisetum petraeum (Steud.)
• Pennisetum polycladum (Chiov.)
• Pennisetum rufescens ((Desf.) Spreng.)
• Pennisetum oxyphyllum (Peter)
• Cenchrus ciliaris subsp. ibrahimii (Chrtek & Osb.-Kos.)
• Pennisetum distylum (Guss.)
• Cenchrus ciliaris var. villifer (Fig. & De Not.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Angola (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Benin (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Caprivi Strip (native)
• Chad (native)
• Djibouti (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Free State (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Greece (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Mali (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Socotra (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Togo (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Western Sahara (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Phoenix Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Jan 7, 2022 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2022 by Damyan Lesidrenski (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2022 by Leigh Winowiecki (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 20, 2021 by Uelliton Pires (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2020 by Martha Peñalver (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Mar 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Apr 24, 2005 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 6, 2022 by Tertxu García (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2022 by Damyan Lesidrenski (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 2, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2019 by Denis Bastianelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 10, 2021 by edouard lecornu (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2019 by Denis Bastianelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 13, 1999 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 9, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 22, 2022 by Garofalo Vera (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 10, 2022 by Abdul Ghaffar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Dec 2, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Más & Lugo-Torres (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2022 by martine chatain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2022 by martine chatain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 21, 2021 by Dr Sandeep Kumar Yadav Sandeep (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2021 by Palmerita_ (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Dec 2, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 10, 2022 by Abdul Ghaffar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 15, 2008 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/4109540)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:395214-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cenchrus ciliaris L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Bunch

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.5

Ph minimum: 6.0