Panicum obtusum

Kunth

Blunt Panic Grass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal

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Summary

A perennial grass reaching 0.8 m tall. Flowers August to September. Hermaphroditic and wind-pollinated. Suitable for light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and basic soils. Requires full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

A perennial grass which grows up to 75 cm high. The plant can produce stolons more than 2 metres long and so can spread considerably.

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Edible Uses

The seed can be cooked as a whole grain or ground into a powder and used as a flour alongside cornmeal. Although it is rather small and fiddly to use in quantity, it has a pleasant, mild flavour and can serve as a staple food.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are cooked whole or ground into a flour. They are often ground with cornflour. They are made into gravy and mixed with meat.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It mostly grows along the banks of rivers and ditches. It does best in a moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun.

Where It Grows

Central America, Mexico, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed which germinate within one week. Plants can be grown by division.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse, covering only just lightly. Germination should occur within a week. Prick out seedlings into trays or individual pots and plant out after the last expected frosts. For division in spring, larger divisions can be planted directly into their permanent positions. Smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established, then planted out in late spring or early summer.

Other Uses

An infusion of the leaves is said to be a good wash for promoting faster hair growth. The dried and powdered stolons can be mixed with soapweed (Yucca species) and used as a tonic hair shampoo. The species is occasionally planted for erosion control.

Notes

There are about 500 Panicum species.

Synonyms

Brachiaria obtusa (Nash.)

Also Known As

Vine mesquite, Obtuse Panicgrass

References (7)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 178
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 604
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 377
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

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