Smut Grass, Rat-tail grass, West Indian dropseed
Sporobolus indicus
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae
What it is like
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.
Height (m): 0
Where it is found
Found in poor dry soils in Australia. Is it native or naturalized there?
S. Europe.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Seed - raw or cooked. It can be ground into a flour.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The plant is used to enrich the blood, reduce swellings and correct gonorrhoea. It is considered to be an antifertility drug in some countries.
Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
Blood tonic: Is this any different to a blood purifier?
Contraceptive: Prevents fertilization occurring in females.
VD: Used in the treatment of venereal disease
Other
Rating: 1
A fibre is obtained from the leaves.
Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
How it is grown
Succeeds in any well drained soil in a sunny position. 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, others say it is a perennial native to S. Europe. 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.
Propagating it: 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.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist