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Sporobolus indicus - (L.)R.Br.

Common Name Smut Grass, Rat-tail grass, West Indian dropseed
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Found in poor dry soils in Australia[154]. Is it native or naturalized there?
Range S. Europe.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Sporobolus indicus Smut Grass, Rat-tail grass, West Indian dropseed


Larry Allain @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Sporobolus indicus Smut Grass, Rat-tail grass, West Indian dropseed
John W. Everest @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / James H. Miller and Karl V. Miller. 2005. Forest plants of the southeast and their wildlife uses. University of Georgia Press., Athens.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 
Sporobolus indicus is a PERENNIAL. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is 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. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - raw or cooked. It can be ground into a flour[46].

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.
Antiinflammatory  Blood tonic  Contraceptive  VD

The plant is used to enrich the blood, reduce swellings and correct gonorrhoea[218]. It is considered to be an antifertility drug in some countries[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Fibre

A fibre is obtained from the leaves[156].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any well drained soil in a sunny position[200]. There is some confusion over the naming of this plant, some sources say S. indicus is an annual grass found in Asia and naturalized in S. Europe[50], others say it is a perennial native to S. Europe[1, 46]. Botanists have divided this species into a number of subspecies as detailed below:- S. indicus capensis Engl. (Syn S. africanus (Poir.)Robyns.&Tournay. S. capensis (P.Beauv.)Kunth. Native to Africa. S. indicus flaccidus (Roem.&Schult.)Veldkamp. (Syn S. diandrus (Retz.)P.Beauv.) Native to western Asia and Australia. S. indicus indicus. (Syn S. poiretii auct.) Native to North and South America. S. indicus pyramidalis (P.Beauv.)Veldkamp. (Syn S. jacquemontii Kunth., S. pyramidalis P.Beauv.) Native to Africa, the Arabian Peninsular, North and South America.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Sporobolus airoidesAlkali SakatonPerennial0.8 -  LMHNDM10 
Sporobolus asperifolius Perennial0.3 -  LMND10 
Sporobolus caroliFairy GrassPerennial0.4 -  LMNM10 
Sporobolus contractusSpike DropseedPerennial0.8 -  LMNM101
Sporobolus cryptandrusSand DropseedPerennial1.0 4-8  LMNDM301
Sporobolus fimbriatusPerennial Dropseed. Dropseed grassPerennial1.2 10-12 FLMHSNDMWe202
Sporobolus flexuosusMesa DropseedPerennial0.0 -  LMNDM10 
Sporobolus giganteusGiant DropseedPerennial2.0 -  LMNDM20 
Sporobolus pallidus Perennial0.0 -  LMNDM10 

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.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)R.Br.

Botanical References

50154

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Rini.E.Francis   Tue Aug 26 2008

WHAT COLOURS DO FLOWERS OF THESE PLANTS HAVE?IS THERE ANY PLANT WITH LIGHT VIOLET OR VIOLET COLOURED FLOWERS?

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