Turgid panic grass
Panicum turgidum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass that keeps growing from year to year. It forms dense tangled clumps. It grows 0.3-1 m high. The stems have angular branching. The nodes or joints are swollen. There are empty leaf sheaths at the nodes. The leaves are narrow and with sharp points. The plant can break off at ground level and blow in the wind.

There are about 500 Panicum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can grow on clay soils or sand dunes and sandy plains. It grows in the desert. It is drought resistant. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 30-250 mm. It can grow in alkaline soils. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Chad, Cyprus, Djibouti, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sahara, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Western Sahara, Yemen

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten fried or mixed with other grains and used in bread making. They are also used for a soup or porridge. It is used in kreb a grain mixture eaten in Chad.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal, vegetable

How it is grown

The seeds can be collected from ant hills.

Its other names

Local names

Afezu, Afozo, Altumam, Bidu, Dungara, Dunqaare, Ithmam, Markouba, Markuba, Munt, Murut, Murutagas, Panic, Thamam, Thmam, Thumam, Thuman, Timam, Tumam

Synonyms

Panicum nubicum Fig. & De Not.;