Setaria palmifolia
(J.König) Stapf
Poaceae
Agrostis plicata Lour.
Chaetochloa effusa (E.Fourn.) Hitchc.
Chaetochloa palmifolia (J.König) Hitchc. & Chase
Chaetochloa sulcata (Aubl.) Hitchc.
Chamaeraphis effusa (E.Fourn.) Kuntze
Chamaeraphis nepalensis (Spreng.) Kuntze
Chamaeraphis neurodes (F.W.Schultz) Kuntze
Chamaeraphis palmifolia (K.D.Koenig) Kuntze
Chamaeraphis paniculifera (Steud.) Kuntze
Chamaeraphis sulcata (Aubl.) Kuntze
Panicum amplissimum Steud.
Panicum kleinianum Nees ex Andersson
Panicum lene Steud.
Panicum mexicanum Scribn. & Merr.
Panicum nepalense Spreng.
Panicum nervosum Roxb.
Panicum neurodes Schult.
Panicum palmatum R.Schleich.
Panicum palmifolia J.König
Panicum palmifolium J. König
Panicum paniculiferum Steud.
Panicum plicatum Roxb.
Panicum plicatum Willd.
Panicum sulcatum Aubl.
Setaria effusa E.Fourn.
Setaria lenis (Steud.) Miq.
Setaria paniculifera (Steud.) E.Fourn.
Setaria sulcata (Aubl.) Desv.
Common Name: Highland Pitpit
The plant has escaped from cultivation and become a weed in some areas - as here in Hawaii
Photograph by: Forest and Kim Starr
General Information
Highland pitpit is a large, clump-forming, evergreen, perennial grass with robust, erect culms 75 - 300cm long.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is occasionally cultivated for its edible seeds - some improved forms have been developed in New Guinea[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
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.
,
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
E. Asia - southern China, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indo-China.
Habitat
Open forests, thicket margins, shady path sides[
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.
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Pollinators | Wind |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a well-drained but moisture-retentive fertile soil[
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.
]. Established plants are drought tolerant[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
The plant has become a weed in many tropical areas[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
Edible Uses
Seeds - boiled or roasted and used as a substitute for rice[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
The hearts of young shoots can be eaten raw, steamed or cooked with rice[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Very young plants are eaten raw as a side dish with rice[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
The plant is used medicinally[
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.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Division.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
