Common Name:

General Information

Panicum laetum is an annual, clump-forming grass with slender culms up to 75cm tall[].
The seed is regarded as a delicacy and is often collected from the wild for local use, sometimes in large enough quantities to sell in local markets[]. It is considered to have potential for the restoration of degraded pastures[]. The plant has been recommended for improvement as a grain crop[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Cape Verde, Mauritania, Senegal to Sudan and Eritrea; Tanzania, Angola and Madagascar.

Habitat

Seasonally moist locations in grassland, ditches, and pond and river margins, often on black clay soils, sometimes occurring in very large, nearly pure stands. In Tanzania it is found at elevations from 1,000 - 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.70 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

This species is not particularly drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked and eaten as a cereal[]. Regarded as a delicacy, it is crushed and made into porridges and cakes[].
Traditionally, the seed is collected from the wild by sweeping through the crop with a calabash, bowl or tray when the ears are ready to shatter[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is considered to have potential for the restoration of degraded pastures[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ, only just covering the seed. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 35°c. Scarification or removal of the lemma and palea from the grain greatly improves germination rates[]..

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