Envoy at 07:16, 14 July 2007

2007-07-14T07:16:31Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Distichlis palmeri''
| image =
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Poales]]
| familia = [[Poaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Chloridoideae]]
| tribus =
| genus = ''Distichlis''
| genus_authority = [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Raf.]]
| species = '''''D. palmeri'''''
| binomial = ''Distichlis palmeri''
| binomial_authority = (Vasey) Fassett ex I. M. Johnst.
}}
'''''Distichlis palmeri''''' ('''Palmer's grass'''), or '''nipa grass''', is a [[saltgrass]] of the family [[poaceae]], grows in the [[Sonoran desert]] of Western [[Mexico]], and produces a [[grain]] with some similarities to [[wheat]]. Originally a major food source of the [[Cocopah]] tribe in the western [[United States]], it was thought to be extinct. A search for remaining plants was successful, and was followed by a breeding program that increased yield from 5kg/Ha to 2Mt/Ha. The grain is currently also being bred for commercial use in [[Australia]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.nypa.com.au/Grain.html
| title=NyPa Wild Wheat
| publisher=NyPa Australia Ltd.
| accessdate=2006-11-26
}}</ref> It is drought resistant and can absorb seawater. <ref>{{cite journal
| url=http://www.miracosta.edu/home/kmeldahl/articles/crops.pdf
| journal=Scientific American
| date=August [[1998]]
| accessdate=2006-12-26
| title=Irrigating Crops with Seawater
| author=Edward P. Glenn, J. Jed Brown and James W. O’Leary
}}</ref> As a [[halophyte]], the salt it absorbs is excreted from specialised cells (which are not [[stomata]]) on the leaf surface.<ref name=Raven> {{cite book |last=Raven| first=Peter H.| authorlink= | title=Biologie Végétale | publisher=DeBoek Université | year=2000 | doi= | id=ISBN 2-7445-0102-6}} {{fr}}</ref>

The United Nations Environment Report ([[2006]]) says of the plant: "It is a strong candidate for a major global food crop and could become this desert's greatest gift to the world." Some varieties of ''D. Palmeri'' have been the subjects of US patents.<ref>{{cite patent|US|4767887}} A variety, Yensen 1a, of Distichlis palmeri, characterized by vigorous growth in salty soils, high grain yield and ideal form for harvest, and for human consumption.</ref><ref>{{cite patent|US|4767889}} A grain variety, Yensen 2a, of Distichlis palmeri, which are characterized by vigorous growth in salty soils, high grain yield and ideal form for harvest. This grain variety has excellent taste qualities.</ref>

==Notes and references==
<references/>

[[Category:Halophytes and salt tolerant plants]]
[[Category:Cereals]]

Distichlis palmeri - Revision history

Envoy at 07:16, 14 July 2007