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Desmostachya

Scientific Name: Desmostachya

Family: Poaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Desmostachya bipinnata

Desmostachya bipinnata, belonging to the Poaceae (or Gramineae) family, is a perennial grass known by several common names.

Common Names:

  • Halfa grass
  • Big cordgrass
  • Salt reed-grass
  • Jilda (Iraq)
  • Halfa (Egypt, Arabia)
  • Daabh
  • Kush
  • Dabh
  • Davoli
  • Durva
  • Dabhena
  • Kusha (Kannada)
  • Dharbe (Kannada)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature:

  • Scientific Name: Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf
  • Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Synonyms:
    • Briza bipinnata L.
    • Cynosurus durus Forssk.
    • Dactylis interrupta Rottler ex Stapf
    • Desmostachya cynosuroides (Retz.) Stapf ex Massey
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • The genus Desmostachya was originally published as Eragrostis sect. Desmostachya

Distribution and Habitat:

Desmostachya bipinnata is an Old World perennial grass found in:

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Bangladesh
  • Egypt (including Sinai)
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Kenya
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Oman

Morphological Characteristics:

  • Tall, tufted perennial grass
  • Rhizomatous, branching from the base
  • Stout, robust rhizomes covered with shiny sheaths
  • Rigid and herbaceous culms
  • Densely clumped caespitose habit
  • Elongated scaly rhizomes
  • Butt sheaths are scarious, pallid, or dark brown and glabrous

Considerations for Pets:

  • Desmostachya bipinnata is a grass.
  • It possesses rhizomes covered with sheaths.
  • It is described as a robust grass.

Considerations for Children:

  • Desmostachya bipinnata is a grass.
  • It possesses rhizomes covered with sheaths.
  • It is described as a robust grass.

Traditional Uses:

Desmostachya bipinnata has a history of traditional use:

  • In Ayurvedic medicine, it's an official drug and various parts of the plant have been used.
  • It has been traditionally used in the treatment of various disorders like asthma and kidney stones.
  • In the Indian traditional system of medicine, the root has been used for the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.
  • Kusha (Imperata cylindrica) and Darbha (Desmostachya bipinnata) are enlisted among Trinapanchamoola, which is a well-known diuretic.