Highland Pitpit. Palm Grass
Setaria palmifolia

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

Setaria palmifolia is an evergreen Perennial growing to 3 m (9ft) by 2 m (6ft) 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), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 3

Where it is found

Open forests, thicket margins, shady path sides.

E. Asia - southern China, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indo-China.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Taiwan, Tibet, USA, West Africa

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Seeds - boiled or roasted and used as a substitute for rice. The hearts of young shoots can be eaten raw, steamed or cooked with rice. Very young plants are eaten raw as a side dish with rice.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The plant is used medicinally.

Other

Rating: 1

Cultivated as an ornamental plant for its palm-like pleated leaves. A folk belief in Taiwan holds that the number of latitudinal creases on the leaf predicts the number of typhoons that will hit the area in the coming or current typhoon season. It is known locally as typhoon grass.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

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.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

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.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Prefers a well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. The plant has become a weed in many tropical areas.

Propagating it: Seed - Division.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The plant has become a weed in many tropical areas. Palm grass can form a total ground cover, preventing the growth and establishment of seedlings of any other species. Invasive, species in Australia, New Zealand, many Pacific Islands, and the Americas.

Its other names

Local names

Short pitpit, Pleated pigeon-grass, Agusahis, Ayas-as, Highland pitpit, Lachang, Luluwan kebo, Palm grass, Zong ye gou wei cao, Palmgrass, hailans pitpit, broadleaved bristlegrass, knotroot. In Spanish it is called pasto de palma and in Samoan vao 'ofe 'ofe.

Synonyms

Agrostis plicata Lour. Chaetochloa effusa (E.Fourn.) Hitchc. Chaetochloa palmifolia (J.König) Hitchc. & Chase Chaetochloa sulcata (Aubl.) Hitchc. Chamaeraphis effusa (E.Fourn.) Kuntze Chamaeraphis nepalensis (Spreng.) Kuntze Chamaeraphis neurodes (F.W.Schultz) Kuntze Chamaeraphis palmifolia (K.D.Koenig) Kuntze Chamaeraphis paniculifera (Steud.) Kuntze Chamaeraphis sulcata (Aubl.) Kuntze Panicum amplissimum Steud. Panicum kleinianum Nees ex Andersson Panicum lene Steud. Panicum mexicanum Scribn. & Merr. Panicum nepalense Spreng. Panicum nervosum Roxb. Panicum neurodes Schult. Panicum palmatum R.Schleich. Panicum palmifolia J.König Panicum palmifolium J. König Panicum paniculiferum Steud. Panicum plicatum Roxb. Panicum plicatum Willd. Panicum sulcatum Aubl. Setaria effusa E.Fourn. Setaria lenis (Steud.) Miq. Setaria paniculifera (Steud.) E.Fourn. Setaria sulcata (Aubl.) Desv.