>CommonsDelinker at 13:23, 28 August 2021

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{{Short description|Species of grass}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Description de l'Égypte (Pl. 10) (9301605394).jpg
|image_caption = ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' (right plant)
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn | author = Lansdown, R.V. | title = ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' | page = e.T13579796A13596921 | year = 2013 | access-date = 27 May 2020}}</ref>
|genus = Desmostachya
|species = bipinnata
|authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Otto Stapf|Stapf]]<ref name=POWO>{{cite web | title = ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' | work = [[Plants of the World Online]] | publisher = [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] | url = http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:398084-1 | access-date = 27 May 2020}}</ref>
|synonyms =
{{Species list
| Briza bipinnata | L.
| Cynosurus durus | Forssk.
| Dactylis interrupta | Rottler ex Stapf
| Desmostachya cynosuroides | (Retz.) Stapf ex Massey
| Desmostachya pingalaiae | Raole & R.J.Desai
| Dinebra dura | Lag.
| Eragrostis bipinnata | (L.) K.Schum.
| Eragrostis cynosuroides | (Retz.) P.Beauv.
| Eragrostis thunbergii | Baill.
| Leptochloa bipinnata | (L.) Hochst.
| Megastachya bipinnata | (L.) P.Beauv.
| Poa cynosuroides | Retz.
| Pogonarthria bipinnata | (L.) Chiov.
| Rabdochloa bipinnata | (L.) Kuntze
| Stapfiola bipinnata | (L.) Kuntze
| Uniola bipinnata | (L.) L.
}}
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO/>
}}

'''''Desmostachya bipinnata''''', commonly known in [[English language|English]] by the names '''halfa grass''', '''big cordgrass''', and '''salt reed-grass''',<ref name=mm>{{ cite web |url=http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Desmostachyabipinnata_page.htm
|title=''Desmostachya bipinnata'' |author=Martha Modzelevich |publisher=Flowers in Israel |access-date=June 15, 2011}}</ref> is an [[Old World]] perennial grass, long known and used in human history. The grass is tall, tufted, leafy, perennial grass, branching from the base, erect from a stout creeping rootstock.(10<ref>Pandeya A; Pandeya SC, 2002. Environment and population differentiation in Desmostachya bipinnata (Linn.) Stapf in western India.

[https://www.tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_43_2/43216.pdf Tropical Ecology], 43:359-362.</ref>) It is commonly known in Hindi by names Dab, Dhab or Kusha.

==Distribution==
''Desmostachya bipinnata'' is native to northeast and west tropical, and northern Africa (in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia); and countries in the Middle East, and temperate and tropical Asia (in Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand).<ref name=grin1>{{GRIN | access-date=June 15, 2011}}</ref>

The species is distributed throughout the India, the studies have made on western region of India, Ahmedabad region, Nehchani region, Jodhpur region & Agra region(1<ref>Pandeya A; Pandeya SC, 2002. Environment and population differentiation in Desmostachya bipinnata (Linn.) Stapf in western India.

[https://www.tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_43_2/43216.pdf Tropical Ecology], 43:359-362.</ref>0)

== Taxonomy and Nomenclature ==
Numerous synonyms have been used for Desmostachya bipinnata but there appears to be no confusion as to this as the preferred scientific name. However, on the basis of distinct morphological and reproductive characters, four new subspecies of D. bipinnata have been described by Pandeya and Pandeya (2002); subsp. longispiculata Amita Pandeya, subsp. jodhpurensis Amita Pandeya, subsp. sheelai Amita Pandeya, and subsp. agraensis Amita Pandeya. However, it is uncertain whether these subspecies represent actual genetic differences, as Pandeya and Pandeya (2002) also note the existence of biotypes of D. bipinnata occurring in response to soil and climatic conditions in western India.

=== 4 Subspecies (Types) of ''Desmostachya bipinnata (Linn.) Stapf'' ===
'''DBAHM'''- ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' subsp.'''''longispiculata Amita Pandeya'''''

'''DBJB-''' ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' subsp. '''''jodhpurensis Amita Pandeya'''''

'''DBNB'''- ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' subsp.'''''sheelai Amita Pandeya'''''

'''DBAG-''' ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' subsp.'''''agraensis Amita Pandeya'''''

==Uses==

===Medicinal===
In [[folk medicine]], ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' has been used variously to treat [[dysentery]] and [[menorrhagia]], and as a [[diuretic]].<ref name=jad>{{cite web |title=Desmostachya bipinnata (POACEAE) |author=James A. Duke |author-link=James A. Duke |publisher=Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases |location=Green Farmacy Garden, [[Fulton, Maryland]] |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/ethnobot.pl?ethnobot.taxon=Desmostachya%20bipinnata |access-date=June 15, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Religious===

{{see also|Sandhyavandanam}}
''Desmostachya bipinnata'' has long been used in various traditions ([[Hindus]], [[Jains]] and [[Buddhists]]) as a very sacred plant. According to early Buddhist accounts, it was the material used by [[Buddha]] for his meditation seat when he attained enlightenment.<ref>{{cite book |author=Professor Paul Williams |title=Buddhism: Critical Concepts in Religious Studies (Critical Concepts in Religious Studies S.) |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |year=2006 |page=262 |isbn=0-415-33226-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ypsz9qEzZjwC&pg=PA262}}</ref> The plant was mentioned in the ''[[Rig Veda]]'' for use in sacred ceremonies and also as a seat for priests and the gods.<ref>{{cite book|last=Griffith|first=Ralph T. H.|title=The Hymns of the Rigveda, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTQd3lfz_VgC&pg=PA4|year=1896|page=4|isbn=9781428630772}}</ref> Kusha grass is specifically recommended by [[Lord Krishna]] in the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' as part of the ideal seat for meditation.<ref>"Establishing a firm seat for himself, In a clean place, Not too high, Not too low, covered with cloth, and antelope skin, and kusha grass" (B.G. VI:11) {{cite book |author1=Smith, Huston |author2=Chapple, Christopher |author3=Sargeant, Winthrop |title=The Bhagavad Gita (Excelsior Editions) |publisher=Excelsior Editions/State University of New York |year=2009 |page=282 |isbn=978-1-4384-2842-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4JoicgCMZ5cC&pg=PA282}}</ref>

===Other===
In arid regions, ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' has been used as [[fodder]] for [[livestock]].<ref name=grin1/>

==Weed information==
In agriculture, ''Desmostachya bipinnata'' is a [[weed]] commonly found in [[wheat]] crops.<ref name=pjws>{{cite journal |author1=Ahmad, R. |author2=Shaikh, A.S. |title=Common Weeds of Wheat and Their Control |journal=Pakistan Journal of Water Resources |volume=7 |issue=1 |date=January–June 2003 |pages=73–76 |url=http://www.pcrwr.gov.pk/New_Journals/Vol7-1/common_weeds.pdf |access-date=June 15, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}} 10. [https://www.tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_43_2/43216.pdf Pandeya A; Pandeya SC, 2002. Environment and population differentiation in Desmostachya bipinnata (Linn.) Stapf in western India.]

[https://www.tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_43_2/43216.pdf Tropical Ecology, 43:359-362.]
<references responsive="0" />
{{Commons category|Desmostachya bipinnata}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal|last=Mahdihassan|first=S.|year=1987|title=Three Important Vedic Grasses|journal=Indian Journal of History of Science|volume=22|issue=4|pages=286–291|url=http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/rawdataupload/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005abf_286.pdf|access-date=February 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314123143/http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/rawdataupload/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005abf_286.pdf|archive-date=March 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{Worship in Hinduism}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q659826}}

[[Category:Plants described in 1759]]
[[Category:Flora of Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of China]]
[[Category:Flora of Western Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of tropical Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Fodder]]
[[Category:Chloridoideae]]

Desmostachya bipinnata - Revision history

>CommonsDelinker at 13:23, 28 August 2021