Panicum decompositum
R.Br.
Poaceae
Common Name: Native Millet
Growing plant in native habitat - showing regrowth after the plant was cut down
Photograph by: Harry Rose
General Information
Panicum decompositum is a densely-clumping perennial grass growing about 30 - 80cm tall.
The plant was an important food source for the Australian Aborigines[
144- Title
- Wild Food in Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
- Publisher
- Fontana
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- 0-00-634436-4
- Description
- A very good pocket guide.
]. The edible seed is still sometimes harvested from the wild and used locally.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
154- Title
- Flora of Victoria.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ewart. A. J.
- Publisher
- University Press; Melbourne
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
,
265- Title
- Flora of the Sydney Region
- Publication
-
- Author
- Carolin. R. & Tindale. M.
- Publisher
- Reed. Australia.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0730104001
- Description
- Concise flora with little beyond an extensive key, species descriptions, very brief habitat description.
,
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
Australia - all mainland states.
Habitat
Damp sandy soils[
154- Title
- Flora of Victoria.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ewart. A. J.
- Publisher
- University Press; Melbourne
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
]. Widespread on heavy soils, especially in drier areas[
265- Title
- Flora of the Sydney Region
- Publication
-
- Author
- Carolin. R. & Tindale. M.
- Publisher
- Reed. Australia.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0730104001
- Description
- Concise flora with little beyond an extensive key, species descriptions, very brief habitat description.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Pollinators | Wind |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Found in a range of habitats from warm temperate to tropical. Top growth is sensitive to frost - the plant dying back to the ground in cold weather and regrowing with warmer conditions[
156- Title
- Useful Wild Plants in Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
- Publisher
- William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-00-216441-8
- Description
- A very readable book.
].
Requires a moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked or ground into a powder and used as a flour[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
144- Title
- Wild Food in Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
- Publisher
- Fontana
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- 0-00-634436-4
- Description
- A very good pocket guide.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. A type of millet[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize. It has a mild flavour and can be used as a staple food like millet[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow in a seed tray and only just cover - do not allow to become dry. Germination should take place within a week. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out when 15cm tall[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
