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Echinochloa stagnina
Also called Burgu Grass, Long Awn Water Grass, Burgu, Long Awned Water Grass, Umvuma Grass
Hippo grass (Echinochloa stagnina) is a tall, semi-aquatic grass of tropical Africa and Asia, grown in floodplains for its edible seed and as fodder. It thrives in seasonally flooded or waterlogged ground.
Echinochloa stagnina (Burgu millet, bourgou, hippo grass) is a species of Echinochloa widespread in tropical Africa and Asia, with an invasive status in many Pacific islands. It was once one of the major grasses cultivated in the Inner Niger Delta of the Niger River. It was cultivated by the Fulani people, who used the seeds as food, and to make both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
It tolerates floods well, and has been replanted in Africa, where it has helped to control erosion and provides hay for animals. A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known grain has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.
Jungle rice · Barnyardgrass · Gulf cockspur grass · Japanese millet · Billion-dollar grass · Early Barnyard Grass · Early water grass · Creeping river grass
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Echinochloa stagnina by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
