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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Panicum turgidum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Panicum frutescens Mez. Panicum neglectum Roem. & Schult. Panicum nubicum Fig. & De Not.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Root Seed Shoots
Edible Uses:
Seed - eaten as a soup or ground into a flour and used to make a bread or a porridge[332 ]. The grain may also be stored against a time of scarcity[332 ]. In times of dearth, people raid ants nests to obtain the grain the ants have stored[332 ]. Young shoots - a sweet flavour[299 ]. The burnt, powdered roots produce a sort of soda which some people add to a tobacco quid[332 ].
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.
Old culms, dried and powdered, are used as a wound-dressing[332 ]. The root is carried by female marabouts (religious teachers) in Mauritania for corporal punishment of wayward pupils[332 ]. The seed is said to be antidiabetic[332 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Fodder
Agroforestry Uses: The plant produces long deep-penetrating and quick growing-roots which on sand-dunes act to bind the sand[332 ]. It is common on the Sahel steppes, and in parts of Niger (Agedes area) it forms near pure stands on sand-patches. In Sudan it is dominant on locust laying-ground and serves as food for the young insects[332 ]. Other Uses: The stiff straw is commonly woven into mats, baskets and cordage, and is also used for thatching[299 , 332 ]. The culms are used in desert areas as firewood[332 ]. Fodder: The palatibility of the leaves of Panicum turgidum is low, but sufficient for camels and donkeys, and, when young, for sheep and goats. Herdsmen in Niger say that milk becomes foul-smelling 2–3 days after cows have grazed Panicum turgidum.
Special Uses
Carbon Farming
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Management: Standard Staple Crop: Balanced carb Wild Staple Crop
A plant of the arid tropics and subtropics where it is found at elevations up to 3,200 metres[418 ]. The plant grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 25 - 35°c, but can tolerate 8 - 40°c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 200 - 400mm, tolerating 100 - 600mm[418 ]. Requires a sunny position and a very well-drained soil[418 ]. Prefers a light to medium soil and is tolerant of poor soils and saline soils[299 , 418 ]. The plant is extremely drought resistant[332 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7, but tolerates 6 - 8[418 ]. In dry areas the dormant buds sprout rapidly after the onset of the rainy season and the plants stay green over a very extended period, with flowering occurring towards the end of the rainy season and during the early part of the dry season[299 ]. The seeds are difficult to harvest in quantity because they mature at different times over an extended period, shatter easily and are often eaten by birds[299 ]. The plant photosynthesize by a more efficient method than most plants. Called the 'C4 carbon-fixation pathway', this process is particularly efficient at high temperatures, in bright sunlight and under dry conditions[299 ]. A collection of 42 accessions of Panicum turgidum is held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. High grain-yielding types are particularly found in the Middle East[299 ].
Carbon Farming
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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Staple Crop: Balanced carb
(0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.
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Wild Staple Crop
Some wild plants have strong historical or contemporary use. Although they are not cultivated crops, they may be wild-managed.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed - it does not germinate below 15°c[299 ]. Surface sow, or only just cover, in a very well-drained medium but ensure the seed does not dry out. Germination is best at 25 - 35°c[299 ]. Transplanting of seedlings is possible[299 ]. Natural reproduction of Panicum turgidum is mainly vegetatively by stolons[299 ]. Division of self-layered plants[K ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Desert Grass. Turgid panic grass, Afezu, Afozo, Altumam, Dungara, Markouba, Markuba, Munt, Murut, Murutagas, Panic, Thumam, Timam, Tumam
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Iran (south), Iraq (south), Israel, Jordan TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan AFRICA: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Niger
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.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
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.
Expert comment
Author
Forssk.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Panicum turgidum
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