Leptochloa chinensis
(L.) Nees
Poaceae
Cynodon virgatus Willd.
Cynosurus capillaceus Beauv.
Eleusine chinensis (L.) F.Muell.
Leptochloa capillacea Beauv.
Leptochloa eragrostoides Steud.
Leptochloa tetraquetra J. & C.Presl
Poa chinensis L.
Poa secundaria Heyne ex Hook.f.
Poa sessilis Lam.
Poa sinensis J.F.Gmel.
Common Name: Red Sprangletop
Plant dug up to show how it spreads by rhizomes
Photograph by: Tony Rodd
General Information
Leptochloa chinensis is a strongly tufted annual or perennial grass with erect culms ascending 12 - 120cm tall[
].
The seed is sometimes gathered from the wild for local food use.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Eastern Africa, through tropical Asia to Indonesia, Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
Habitat
Adapted to moist, swampy places in open habitats, especially if disturbed, on heavy or light soils at elevations from sea level to 1,400 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 Potential | Yes |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual/Perennial |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A weed of rice, sugarcane, vegetables, cotton and corn, it is able to establish and grow profusely in waterlogged conditions before crops can take a hold[
]. A serious weed in Indonesia, Philippines, Swaziland, Thailand; and a principal weed in India, Japan and Malaysia[
].
Edible Uses
Seed[
]. A famine food[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
