|
Panicum pilosum Dalz. and Gibs. |
|
Graminae Bladhi (India). Spreading or ascending panicles 5-15 cm long, the numerous dense racemes 1-3 cm long, rather closely arranged along the main axis, the rachides stiffly ciliate; spikelets glabrous, 1.5 mm long (Hitchcock, 1927). India, Mexico and the West Indies to Brazil and Ecuador. Moist ground and open woods. Bladhi is a rain-fed crop and is cultivated in India, on poorer soils with moderate rainfall. In the Deccan it is cultivated in hilly areas on light soils. It is sown in June. The field is prepared with a harrow and the seed is carefully sown, either by broadcasting or with a seed drill. About 6-7 kg of seed per hectare are evenly distributed over the land. Seedlings are delicate in the early stages; but once they begin to tiller, a dense growth soon covers the soil. The crop requires no further attention till harvest. No irrigation or manure is applied. The crop is ready for harvest by October.Bladhi is much like Setaria italica, but larger. The ripe earhead is reddish- brown with bristles, while the ripe earhead of rala is smooth and of a pale yellow colour. The grain is husked by pounding and is a poor farmer's crop. It is boiled and eaten whole or sometimes ground into flour. The crop tillers profusely and provides good quality fodder. No disease or pest of any importance has been reported from this crop (Solomon, 1953). Grass genera of the world: Information about botany, ecology etc. of the panicum genus; links to photographs of different species Solomon, 1953. |