Panicum effusum — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Seeds, Cereal

The seeds can be used to make bread and are consumed as a cereal grain.

Known Hazards

Hairy panic is a component of pastures, though not usually abundant. It is of moderate nutritional value to livestock. Sheep consuming large quantities of hairy panic within 2–6 weeks of rain can suffer from photosensitivity and the fatal disease called yellow-bighead. It also has some bush food value. The seeds can be ground and baked. Although there are plenty of seeds they may not be easy to collect.

Where to Find It

It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It does best in drier sites. It can grow in arid places.

Australia*, Norfolk Island,

Countries: Australia

How to Identify

A grass which keeps growing from year to year. It forms tufts. It grows 20-60 cm long. It has long stiff spreading hairs. The leaf blade is 2-5.5 mm wide. The flower panicle is open and 10-30 cm long. At first it is enclosed in the uppermost leaf sheath. It has many branches and spreads stiffly. The spikelets are often in pairs. They are 2-3 mm long.

How to Grow

Plants are grown from seed.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Panicum effusum, commonly known as hairy panic, is a grass native to inland Australia. It occurs in every mainland state, as well as New Guinea. In dry conditions, the fast-growing grass can become a tumbleweed.

Notes

There are about 500 Panicum species.

References (15)

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