Echinochloa frumentacea

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

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  • Botanical Name : Echinochloa frumentacea Link
  • Echinochloa is derived from echinus meaning hedge-hog and chloa means grass. Frumentacea is derived from frumentum means produce, especially of the various kinds of cereals, hence corn, grain.

  • Synonyms : Panicum frumentaceum Roxb., Echinochloa colona var. frumentacea Blatter & McCann.
  • Common Name : Banti
  • Plant Family : Poaceae (Gramineae)
  • According to the Rules of ICBN the names of the families should end in -aceae. Thus the new name for the family Gramineae became Poaceae. However, the name Gramineae is also exempted and conserved under 'NominaConservanda' because of their constant use for a long time.

  • Plant Form : Grasses
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Echinochloa frumentacea Plant :

  • Habit : Tall , glabrous, tufted, robust with stems erect, from 60-120 cm high.
  • Leaves : Linear-lanceolate, glabrous.
  • Inflorescence :
    • Panicle often nodding.
    • Spikes second, incurved, crowded.
  • Flowers : Spikelets mostly 3-nate, unequally pedicelled, one at least sessile, varying from hispidulous to almost glabrous and from acute to cuspidulate or rarely distinctly cuspidate.
  • Flowering and Fruiting Time : October-January
  • Significance :
    • The grain is eaten chiefly by the poorer classes.
    • It is eaten either boiled in milk, or patched.
    • The stalks are given to cattle.