Gramineae

Small panicum

Panicoideae; Panicodae; Paniceae. There are about 370 species of Panicum found in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world.

Panicum ecklonii occurs in southern Africa as far north as Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also in West Africa.

Panicum ecklonii is a shortly rhizomatous and tufted perennial that grows to 800 mm tall. Leaf blades 60-200 mm long and 3-8 mm wide. The leave blades are mainly basal, flat, bright green, usually densely hairy. Nodes are dark. Inflorescence 60-140 mm long. Spikelets usually flushed with purple. Spikelets are 2.5-3.5 mm long, ovate in outline.

Small panicum is an attractive grass with a fair grazing value. It is a good soil stabilising grass, growing on slopes that are often burnt, also in damp places.

Both C₃ and C₄ forms of P. ecklonii occur.

None reported and considered to be non-toxic.

One of two Panicum species that are found generally in open grassland. Grows mostly in high altitude grassland, in damp places and on frequently burnt slopes; in the northern parts of the distribution area the grass usually occurs at the edge of forests.

Found mostly in sandy soil.

Nor propagated

Grows and flowers in early spring until early Autumn.

None known

Not very rapid growing, and is prone to disappear during overutilisation of grassland.

Gibbs-Russell, G. E. Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L. Barker, N. P.., Anderson, H. M., Dallwitz, M.J. 1991. Grasses of southern africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, No. 58, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Van Wyk, E. & Van Oudtshoorn, F. 1999. Guide to grasses of southern Africa. Briza Publications, Arcadia, South Africa.