| DESCRIPTION: A shortly rhizomatous, tufted grass with ascending culms 30-200 cm high. Leaf blades flat or convolute, linear, 10-60 cm long and 3-15 m wide, tapering to a long fine point. Inflorescence a dense, continuous false spike 3-30 cm long, 8 mm wide. USE: Sown as a medium to long-term pasture , and for erosion control on black earths. Speed and reliability of establishment make it ideal for short-term leys. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. COMMON NAMES: Purple pigeon grass. FURTHER INF: It is native of southern and northern Central Africa. It occurs naturally from 34ºS-5ºN, and from near sea level to 2400 m. in a wide range of habitats, primarily on black clays plains, but also on stony hillsides, in grassland, along stream banks, and in swamp and forest margins. It can be found in areas with an annual rainfall between 500-1300 and average annual temperatures from 16°C upwards. Mostly found on black clay soils, but also on clay loams, sandy loams and sands with a pH between 6.2-8.2. Soils are mostly well drained, but sometimes with impeded drainage. In cultivation, established stands decline as fertility falls. |