Common Name:

General Information

Ischaemum ciliare is a clump-forming or spreading, stoloniferous perennial grass with slender culms usually up to 90cm tall, occasionally to 130cm. The erect culms often form branches, they root freely at the lower nodes and, when regularly cut or grazed, can form a dense mat of growth[].
The plant is used as a ground cover and soil stabilizer. It is sometimes grown as a lawn.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia

Habitat

Open, grassy glades in lowland forests, roadsides, ditch banks, pond margins, and lawns[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland tropical areas, rarely found at elevations above 600 metres. It has an optimal growing temperature between 30 - 35°c and is intolerant of frost. It is adapted to a wide range of rainfall regimes, including waterlogged areas in the wet tropics receiving up to 7,000mm annual rainfall per year, and to seasonally dry monsoonal areas of India[, ].
The plant has been reported as having some shade tolerance, remaining productive and persistent with light transmission as low as 40%, performing well under coconuts[, ]. It is adapted across a wide range of soil textures (except on sandy or coralline soils), fertility levels and tolerates a pH in the range 4.5 - 7 or 8. It is especially useful on very acid, low fertility soils with high aluminium content, and can tolerate poor drainage and some salinity[]. It responds well to applications of fertilizer on poor soils[]. The plant is not tolerant of drought, but has good flood tolerance[].
The plant is an opportunistic invader of open or disturbed habitats[]. It can spread by means of its stolons, pieces of which may be transferred between cloven hooves[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a cover grass to bind soil and reduce erosion[]. It has been shown to grow well in the shade of a coconut plantation[]. It spreads rapidly from cuttings, giving good competition against annual weeds after soil disturbance or clearing of forest[].
Responding well to regular trimming, a dwarf form of the plant is used for lawns[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - it shows dormancy for up to 6 months after harvest, with germination continuing to improve for up to 10 months under good storage conditions. Seed can be sown in situ. Seedlings are vigorous[].
Cuttings of the stolons can be broadcast onto the soil surface and disced in, or planted on a 30cm grid[].

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