Sporobolus cryptandrus Sand Dropseed PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Sporobolus cryptandrus is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - raw or cooked[257]. It can be parched, ground into a flour and eaten dry or made into a mush[61, 101, 105, 183]. The ground seed can also be added to biscuits, breads and other cereal concoctions[183, 257]. The tiny seed is easily freed from its husks[183].

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.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Brush Soil reclamation

A bunch of the grass, about 30cm long, can be tied together with string and used as a brush for cleaning[257].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any well drained soil in a sunny position[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec (southwest), Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta (south), Manitoba, British Columbia (south)), United States (Indiana, Maine (southwest), Massachusetts (east), Michigan, New Hampshire (southeast), New York (east & north), Ohio, Pennsylvania (east), Vermont (south), Connecticut (southwest), Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alabama (east), Arkansas, Kentucky (west), Louisiana, South Carolina (east), Mississippi, Tennessee, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Nuevo León, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Baja California Sur) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Argentina

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Sporobolus airoides	Alkali Sakaton	Perennial	0.8	-		LMH	N	DM	1	0
Sporobolus asperifolius		Perennial	0.3	-		LM	N	D	1	0
Sporobolus caroli	Fairy Grass	Perennial	0.4	-		LM	N	M	1	0
Sporobolus contractus	Spike Dropseed	Perennial	0.8	-		LM	N	M	1	0	1
Sporobolus fimbriatus	Perennial Dropseed. Dropseed grass	Perennial	1.2	10-12	F	LMH	SN	DMWe	2	0	2
Sporobolus flexuosus	Mesa Dropseed	Perennial	0.0	-		LM	N	DM	1	0
Sporobolus giganteus	Giant Dropseed	Perennial	2.0	-		LM	N	DM	2	0
Sporobolus indicus	Smut Grass, Rat-tail grass, West Indian dropseed	Perennial	0.0	0-0		LM	N	DM	1	1	1
Sporobolus pallidus		Perennial	0.0	-		LM	N	DM	1	0
Sporobolus wrightii	Big Sacaton	Perennial	1.5	6-9		LMH	N	MWe	2	0	2

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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Expert comment

Author

(Torr.)A.Gray.

Botanical References

43235

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


	Mon Oct 5 2009

I've found the seed of S.c. to be similar to teff, the Ethiopian annual which is used to make injera, the staple Ethiopian bread. The seed of S.c. is relatively easy to collect and separate out.

Sporobolus cryptandrus - (Torr.)A.Gray.