Cenchrus purpureus
(Schumach.) Morrone · speciesAt a glance
Sources14 archives
Databases and archives Cenchrus purpureus's data was compiled from.
WikipediaWikimedia Foundation14 languages↗
BioWikiNetmultilingual Wikipediamultilingual↗
GBIFGlobal Biodiversity Information Facility5 484 records↗
ENAEuropean Nucleotide Archive · EMBL-EBI28 eDNA detections↗
BOLD SystemsCentre for Biodiversity Genomics33 specimens↗
NCBIUS National Library of Medicinesequences↗
LOTUSNatural Products (Wikidata)compounds↗
GRIN TaxonomyUSDA-ARSdistribution & uses↗
Open Tree of LifeOpenTreephylogeny backbone↗
CCDBChromosome Counts DB · Tel Aviv U.genome & karyotype↗
GoaTGenomes on a Tree · Sangergenome & karyotype↗
PloiDBPloidy Databasegenome & karyotype
WikidataWikimedia Foundationstructured facts↗
GLoBIGlobal Biotic Interactionsbiotic interactions↗Every layer below draws on the sources above — open one to explore it, or use ← → to move between tabs.
Cenchrus purpureus, synonym Pennisetum purpureum, also known as Napier grass, elephant grass or Uganda grass, is a species of perennial tropical grass native to the African grasslands.[Farrell, G., Simons, S. A., & Hillocks, R. J. (2002). Pests, diseases, and weeds of Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum: a review. International Journal of Pest Management, 48(1), 39-48.] It has low water and nutrient requirements, and therefore can make use of otherwise uncultivated lands.[Strezov, V., Evans, T. J., & Hayman, C. (2008). Thermal conversion of elephant grass Pennisetum purpureum Schum) to biogas, bio-oil and charcoal. Bioresources Technology, 99, 8394-8399.] Historically, this wild species has been used primarily for grazing, recently, however, it has been used as part of a push–pull agricultural pest management strategy. Napier grasses improve soil fertility, and protect arid land from soil erosion. It is also utilized for firebreaks, windbreaks, in paper pulp production and most recently to produce bio-oil, biogas and charcoal.
No narrative description available for this taxon yet.
Size & morphology19
Life cycle & reproduction37
Diet & foraging1
Habitat & environment31
Physiology & chemistry21
Uses & economy15
Other traits8
Compounds documented for Cenchrus purpureus across natural-product and food-composition databases — not just the ~150 nutrients on a classic label ("nutritional dark matter").
Compound class profile1 class
Documented compounds1 total
| Compound | Class | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| oxalate | present | LOTUS |
A DNA barcode is a short, standardised stretch of genes that works like a fingerprint — enough to tell one species from another. Below is the molecular trace Cenchrus purpureus has left across the world's sequence archives.
At a glance
★ the standard DNA barcode for this group — the short region actually read to tell this species apart. The rest are extra genes sequenced along the way.
The complete instruction manual Cenchrus purpureus carries — its genome. We read it from three angles — how big it is, how the DNA is packed into chromosomes, and how completely it has been sequenced — and explain how to read each value as you go.
Genome sizehow big the whole instruction manual is
Measured in base pairs (bp) — the individual letters of DNA (human ≈ 3.2 Gb, a bacterium a few million). The chart places this genome on a logarithmic scale — each step to the right is ten times bigger — among reference organisms. Across species a bigger genome loosely tracks with larger cells, slower growth and lower-energy lifestyles (powered flight favours small genomes) — yet it does not imply more genes or a more advanced organism (the long-standing C-value paradox).
Chromosomes & ploidyhow the DNA is packaged
2n is the full chromosome count in a normal body cell; n is a gamete (egg or sperm), which carries half. Ploidy is how many complete chromosome sets each cell holds — 2× (diploid) is typical for animals, while higher levels (polyploidy) are common in plants. Click any value below to see the underlying records and sources.
2n 2819×GoaT · Kew Plant DNA C-values Database · CCDB · ipcn-api-dl · CCDB · book-ipcn67-71 +7
2n 274×CCDB · book-ipcn67-71 · CCDB · book-indian_vol2 · CCDB · book-fedorov +1
2n 213×CCDB · ipcn-api-dl · CCDB · book-indian_vol2
2n 562×CCDB · book-indian_vol2 · CCDB · book-fedorov
2n 141×CCDB · book-indian_vol2
2n 681×CCDB · book-indian_vol2
n 147×CCDB · ipcn-api-dl · CCDB · book-ipcn72 · CCDB · book-ipcn67-71 +1
n 72×CCDB · ipcn-api-dl
n -141×CCDB · ipcn-api-dl
n 161×CCDB · iapt
n 181×CCDB · iapt
n 341×CCDB · ipcn-api-dl
tetraploid1×GoaT · Kew Plant DNA C-values Database
polyploid inferred1×PloiDB · genus-scale
Sequencing statusassembly quality — how far to trust these numbers
Assembly level tells you how finished the sequence is — from fragmented contigs, through scaffolds, up to a full chromosome-level assembly. BUSCO % estimates completeness: the share of genes expected to be present that were actually found. These describe the data quality, not the organism.
How far back this lineage goes — and how we know. Everything here is measured in Ma, short for “mega-annum”: millions of years ago. The chart reads left to right like a calendar of the Earth, from the deep past on the left to today at the right edgetop to bottom like a core drilled through the Earth, from the deep past at the top down to today at the bottom.
At a glance
When this lineage existed
How to read this: the coloured strip along the bottomdown the left is the geological calendar — the standard epochs (Pliocene, Pleistocene…) every museum uses, shown so you can see which chapter of Earth's history this lineage lived in. This lineage is a young one, so the strip is zoomed in to epochs — the finer subdivisions inside a period. The orange marker is the DNA clock: DNA accumulates mutations at a roughly steady rate, so comparing this species' DNA with its relatives estimates when the lineage split off — independently of any fossil.
Record type5 484 records
Origin
Range
Wildobservation + sensor
Human sightings and records, or camera-trap / sensor detections — someone (or a device) saw or captured the species in the wild.
Museum / Voucheredphysical evidence
Backed by a physical specimen — a herbarium sheet, sample or voucher held in a collection. “Vouchered” means supported by material evidence, not just an observation.
Cultivated / Captivenot free-living
A living individual in a botanical garden, zoo or nursery — cultivated or kept, not free-living.
Wildobservation + sensor
Human sightings and records, or camera-trap / sensor detections — someone (or a device) saw or captured the species in the wild.
Holding institutions67 of 156 geolocated
Institutions and collections holding physical, vouchered specimens of this species — click a row to fly to it on the map.
| Institution | Specimens |
|---|---|
| Saint Louis, US | 310 |
| MeiseBGlocation not on record | 199 |
| Mexico City, MX | 88 |
| Brisbane, AU | 80 |
| Tampa, US | 46 |
| Canberra, AU | 38 |
| Salvador, BR | 34 |
| Mount Annan, AU | 27 |
| UNIVASFlocation not on record | 26 |
| University of Stellenboschlocation not on record | 25 |
| Bronx, US | 23 |
| Kensington, AU | 21 |
| Blumenau, BR | 20 |
| UFBAlocation not on record | 19 |
| Auckland, NZ | 17 |
| San Isidro, AR | 14 |
| Smithfield, AU | 14 |
| Museo Entomologico de Leonlocation not on record | 13 |
| Palmerston, AU | 13 |
| Brasília, BR | 12 |
| BISHlocation not on record | 12 |
| Honolulu, US | 11 |
| Florida Museum of Natural History- Zoology, Paleontology & Paleobotanylocation not on record | 11 |
| San José, CR | 11 |
| Antiguo Cuscatlán, SV | 11 |
| St. Augustine, TT | 11 |
| Christchurch, NZ | 10 |
| León, NI | 10 |
| WAGlocation not on record | 10 |
| MEXUlocation not on record | 9 |
| Kew, GB | 9 |
| San Jose State University, Museum of Birds and Mammalslocation not on record | 9 |
| Berlin, DE | 8 |
| Campo Mourão, BR | 8 |
| UTFPR-CPlocation not on record | 8 |
| Laboratorio de Ictiologialocation not on record | 7 |
| Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropicallocation not on record | 7 |
| Cenargenlocation not on record | 6 |
| Embrapa Agrobiology Diazothrophic Microbial Culture Collectionlocation not on record | 6 |
| Brasília, BR | 6 |
| UnBlocation not on record | 6 |
| Area de Conservacion Guanacastelocation not on record | 6 |
| Chicago, US | 5 |
| Paleontological Collectionlocation not on record | 5 |
| Armidale, AU | 5 |
| Cusco, PE | 4 |
| UFPIlocation not on record | 4 |
| Université de Bordeauxlocation not on record | 4 |
| Universiti Sains Malaysialocation not on record | 4 |
| Corrientes, AR | 4 |
| Jardín Botánico de Cartagena "Guillermo Piñeres" (JBC)location not on record | 4 |
| Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Nortelocation not on record | 4 |
| Moscow State Universitylocation not on record | 4 |
| Plocation not on record | 4 |
| Castelar, AR | 3 |
| UNESP-FCAlocation not on record | 3 |
| Adelaide, AU | 3 |
| Arusha, TZ | 3 |
| BGPAlocation not on record | 3 |
| Cochabamba, BO | 3 |
| CJBGlocation not on record | 3 |
| BMlocation not on record | 3 |
| Instituto para la Investigación y la Preservación del Patrimonio Cultural y Natural del Valle del Cauca - INCIVAlocation not on record | 3 |
| Chaguaramas, TT | 3 |
| URCAlocation not on record | 3 |
| COLlocation not on record | 3 |
| Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldilocation not on record | 3 |
| INMAlocation not on record | 3 |
| UFMSlocation not on record | 3 |
| FUVATESlocation not on record | 3 |
| UFSClocation not on record | 3 |
| Ivano-Frankivsk, UA | 3 |
| UFMGlocation not on record | 2 |
| HUT Culture Collectionlocation not on record | 2 |
| Masindi, UG | 2 |
| Rotorua, NZ | 2 |
| UEMlocation not on record | 2 |
| Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL)location not on record | 2 |
| UFSCarlocation not on record | 2 |
| Pondicherry, IN | 2 |
| Universidade Federale do Rio Grande do Sullocation not on record | 2 |
| Dresden, DE | 2 |
| Departamento de Sistematica e Ecologialocation not on record | 2 |
| Loja, EC | 2 |
| James Cook Townsvillelocation not on record | 2 |
| Elocation not on record | 2 |
| JBRJlocation not on record | 2 |
| UFABClocation not on record | 2 |
| Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (PBZT)location not on record | 2 |
| International Salmonella Centre (W.H.O.)location not on record | 2 |
| QCNElocation not on record | 2 |
| Universidad Nacional de Asunciónlocation not on record | 2 |
| Calabar, NG | 2 |
| Guasave, MX | 2 |
| Santa Teresa, BR | 2 |
| Pretoria, ZA | 2 |
| MAlocation not on record | 1 |
| Córdoba, AR | 1 |
| Jataí / Setor Industrial, BR | 1 |
| Foz do Iguaçu, BR | 1 |
| Universidade Federal de Santa Catarinalocation not on record | 1 |
| Sangmiung Universitylocation not on record | 1 |
| FTlocation not on record | 1 |
| DSMlocation not on record | 1 |
| Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paranálocation not on record | 1 |
| Bogotá, D.C., CO | 1 |
| Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campus do Pantanallocation not on record | 1 |
| EL PASO, US | 1 |
| Universidade Federal de Pelotaslocation not on record | 1 |
| Glocation not on record | 1 |
| Chapel Hill, US | 1 |
| Durham, US | 1 |
| John T. Waterhouse Herbariumlocation not on record | 1 |
| South African National Biodiversity Institutelocation not on record | 1 |
| Pittsburg, US | 1 |
| Hobart, AU | 1 |
| Guatemala, GT | 1 |
| UEPAlocation not on record | 1 |
| Herbario Selva Central Oxapampa - estación biológica del Jardín Botánico de Missourilocation not on record | 1 |
| Universidad Nacional Agrarialocation not on record | 1 |
| N.I.Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR)location not on record | 1 |
| Cibinong, ID | 1 |
| Federal University of Espírito Santolocation not on record | 1 |
| Porto Velho, BR | 1 |
| Londrina, BR | 1 |
| SCZlocation not on record | 1 |
| Fundación Miguel Lillolocation not on record | 1 |
| Department of Plant Resources, National Herbarium and Plant Laboratorieslocation not on record | 1 |
| CEPLAClocation not on record | 1 |
| University of Zambialocation not on record | 1 |
| UNESP-IBILCElocation not on record | 1 |
| Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA)location not on record | 1 |
| Cambridge, US | 1 |
| Richmond, US | 1 |
| California Academy of Scienceslocation not on record | 1 |
| VENlocation not on record | 1 |
| Lima, PE | 1 |
| Universidade Federal do Maranhãolocation not on record | 1 |
| Minia, EG | 1 |
| Universidade Federal do Ceara, Departamento de Biologialocation not on record | 1 |
| UFESlocation not on record | 1 |
| Maringá, BR | 1 |
| Botanic Gardenlocation not on record | 1 |
| CUVClocation not on record | 1 |
| Iquitos, PE | 1 |
| Universidad de Caldas (UCaldas)location not on record | 1 |
| Universidad de El Salvadorlocation not on record | 1 |
| Altos de Pipe, VE | 1 |
| LISClocation not on record | 1 |
| IPA/SPlocation not on record | 1 |
| Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS)location not on record | 1 |
| San Diego, US | 1 |
| UFPElocation not on record | 1 |
| Fortaleza, BR | 1 |
| Chadron, US | 1 |
| NAlocation not on record | 1 |
Cultivated / Captivenot free-living
A living individual in a botanical garden, zoo or nursery — cultivated or kept, not free-living.
Where the DNA of Cenchrus purpureus was picked up in samples of water, soil or air — nobody saw the organism, only its DNA left behind. A trace is a clue that the species was near, not a confirmed sighting.
Signal
Where its DNA was found
How strong is each trace?
Modelled climatemodelled
How to read this: each dot is one detection of this species' DNA in an environmental sample. The confidence meter weighs how many independent studies and places back up the signal — one detection in one study is a hint; many across several studies is solid. Records dated before 2008 (when eDNA methods began) are treated as likely mislabeled and left off the map.