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Aristida pungens - (Desf.) De Winter

Common Name Drinn
Family Poaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Common throughout the Sahara. Adapted to sandy habitats, represented by deep sandy clusters (dunes, ergs).
Range Africa Europe, Asia
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Aristida pungens Drinn


edibleplants.org
Aristida pungens Drinn
Liliane ROUBAUDI - tela-botanica.org

 

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Summary

Also known by the scientific name Aristida pungens. Stipagrostis pungens is a robust perennial 50 cm to 1 m). It is a long rhizomatous plant, recognizable by inflorescences composed of spikelets, in loose and ventilated panicles. Common throughout the Sahara, the drinn is perfectly adapted to sandy habitats. A traditional food plant in Africa, this grain has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Aristida pungens is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Aristida pungens Desf. Arthratherum pungens (Desf.) P.Beauv.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Portion: Seeds, Cereal. A traditional food plant in Africa, this grain has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable landcare. It is used in kreb a grain mixture eaten in Chad. Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: balanced carb (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world) [1-1].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


A traditional medicinal annual plant growing in Tunisia.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Paper and Fibre mats: The chemical composition of S. pungens has showed that it contains quite high amount of extractives, lignin (around 12%) and polysaccharides (71%). The a-cellulose amounts are acceptable (44%).

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Climate: tropical. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. Extremely drought-resistant, drinn grows in areas with as little as 70 mm of rainfall per year. Perennial, robust (50 cm to 1 m), long rhizomatous plant, recognizable by inflorescences composed of spikelets, in loose and ventilated panicles. Common throughout the Sahara, the drinn is perfectly adapted to sandy habitats, represented by deep sandy clusters (dunes, ergs). The steppe in drinn is an essential pasture for camels. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: wild staple. Management: standard, coppice (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1]. .

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed. rhizomes.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Drinn, Eilig

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Africa. North Africa, Sahara, West Africa. Central Africa. Algeria, Egypt, Chad, Libya, Mauritania, Morrocco, Mediterranean, Sudan. Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia. Europe: Belgium

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Can be invasive in all it's growing areas.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

(Desf.) De Winter

Botanical References

Links / References

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Subject : Aristida pungens  
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