Australian millet, Native millet, Umbrella grass, Papa Grass
Panicum decompositum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A perennial millet grass plant. It grows up to 30-100 cm tall and spreads 30-80 cm wide. It forms stout tussocks. The stems are hollow and erect. The leaf blades are 15-30 cm long and 1-2 cm wide and flat. They are bluish-green with a white midrib. The seed head is 40 cm long. It spreads out about 40 cm wide. There are only a few spikelets. These are 0.3-0.4 cm long and green to purple. The seeds are dark brown and shiny.

There are about 500 Panicum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on damp sandy soils. They need a well drained soils and sun. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Pacific, Taiwan, Tonga

How it is used for food

The seeds are cooked or ground into a flour.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed.

The seeds are gathered in a bowl by rubbing the heads off the stalks. These are then windowed.

Its other names

Local names

Guli, Kaltu-kaltu

Synonyms

Panicum amabile Balansa; Panicum proliferum var. decompositum (R. Br.) Thell.;