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Useful Tropical Plants

Hymenachne amplexicaulis

(Rudge) Nees

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Agrostis monostachya Poir.

Hymenachne acutigluma (Steud.) Gilliland

Hymenachne calamitosa J.R.Clarkson

Hymenachne gouinii E.Fourn.

Hymenachne monostachya (Poir.) P.Beauv.

Hymenachne pseudointerrupta Müll.Hal.

Panicum acuminatum Salzm. ex Döll

Panicum acutiglume Steud.

Panicum amplexicaule Rudge

Panicum auritum Hassk.

Panicum caudatum Willd. ex Steud.

Panicum grisebachianum Mez

Panicum hasskarlii Steud. ex Zoll.

Panicum hymenachne Desv.

Panicum myurum G.Mey.

Panicum perdensum Steud.

Sporobolus villosus Hochst. ex Döll

Common Name:

Hymenachne amplexicaulis
Growing plant
Photograph by: J. Vitelli/B. Madigan, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, Queensland
© State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Industry
Hymenachne amplexicaulis Hymenachne amplexicaulis Hymenachne amplexicaulis Hymenachne amplexicaulis Hymenachne amplexicaulis

General Information

Hymenachne amplexicaulis is a perennial, evergreen grass with robust, decumbent stems 200 - 350cm long that root and form new growth at the lower nodes. Plants can spread freely to form large clumps.
The plant is sometimes harvsted from the wild for local use as a wick. It has potential as a nutrient sink and sediment trap in situations polluted by habitation and cultivation.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - All countries other than Chile; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean.

Habitat

A semi-aquatic plant in open swamps and ditches from sea-level up to 1,200 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height2.50 m
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moister areas of the tropics and subtropics, growing in areas of high rainfall at elevations up to 1,200 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Requires a sunny position, being intolerant of shade[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The plant is adapted to acid soils in peat swamps having a pH in the range 4 - 4.8[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. It can tolerate water up to 1 metre deep, but is better adapted to seasonal immersion than to permanent water[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Sometimes the plant becomes a troublesome weed, especially in Asia and Australia, where it can be found in wetlands, flood plains, irrigation systems, water storage facilities, irrigated rice and sugar cane crops[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. It spreads by means of by seed and broken stem fragments. Each flower head can produce over 4000 viable seeds - these can survive in water and are spread during annual flooding events and in mud attached to the fur or hooves of animals. Waterbirds may also be responsible for spreading seed. Broken stem fragments can be carried to new locations by floodwaters, and then take root in moist soil.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has been proposed as a nutrient sink and sediment trap in situations polluted by habitation and cultivation[
415
Title
Tropical Forages
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/index.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Mainly focussed on forage plants, the site gives a lot of information on the plant, with a good botanical description, details of cultivation, plant uses and a good selection of photographs.
].

Other Uses

The pith of the culms is used for making lamp wicks[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe. Seed viability declines fairly quickly under ambient storage conditions in the tropics (20 - 30°c), from an initial 98% to 10% over a period of 16 months[
415
Title
Tropical Forages
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/index.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Mainly focussed on forage plants, the site gives a lot of information on the plant, with a good botanical description, details of cultivation, plant uses and a good selection of photographs.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Hymenachne+amplexicaulis>

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