Desert panic
Panicum laetum
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
A herb. It is an annual grass. It forms tufts. It grows 70 cm high. The leaf blades are 4- 24 cm long and 1 cm wide. They taper to a point.
There are about 500 Panicum species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows on sandy soil. It grows in semi-arid regions. It grows in the African Savannah. It is often in black soils on seasonally flooded areas. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 100 mm. It grows between 1,000-1,300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, West Africa
How it is used for food
The seeds are ground and used to make porridge. It is used in kreb a grain mixture eaten in Chad.
It is a dietary staple among nomads in the Sahel in Mali.
Edible parts
Seeds, grain, cereal
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds germinate better if treated.
Because the seed tends to fall easily, it is harvested early in the morning while dew holds the seed in the flowering head. It is often collected by shaking the grains into a basket. The grass can be cut and threshed and winnowed.
Its other names
Local names
Baya, Guirji, Hallun, Paggiri, Timam