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Cenchrus americanus 'Purple Majesty'
| Family Name: | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
| Synonyms: | Panicum glaucum, Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Majesty' |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Grass or Grass-like Plant |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A pearl millet cultivar which grows in clumps, up to 1.5 m tall with showy inflorescence and foliage. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Foliage has red midrib, leaf blade is green at first and matures into deep purple colour. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence is cat-like raceme, and purple-brown in colour. |
| Cultivation | Grows well under full sun, with well drained soil. Sunny area intensifies the purple pigment. |
| Etymology | The genus term Pennisetum means feathery-bristle, which refers to the inflorescence. The specific epithet glaucum means whitish bloom, which refers to the seed heads. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | Suitable to be grown as a container specimen and in mixed borders as its foliage give beautiful contrast with other plants. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers |
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting (Seeds), Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Abiotic |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Purple |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1019 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2313 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
