Panicum trichocladum
Panicum trichocladum
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 28°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 900 - 5,000mm and a pronounced dry season of up to 7 months[1]. Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade[1]. Adapted to most well-drained, friable, fertile soils, it is often found on sandy or gravely soils, but also on loams and clay loams[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant[1].
Propagation
Seed - it may not reach maximum germination until up to 18 months after harvest. Dormancy can be overcome by removal of glumes from the fresh seed[2]. Seed can be drilled or broadcast at 2 - 3 kilos per hectare. Being a small seed, it should be planted at no more than 1cm deep. Rolling after sowing improves germination and establishment[2]. This species can also be established from slips, stolon plantlets, or pieces of stolon with several nodes[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Panicum+trichocladum>
Pollinators
Wind
References
- [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [2]Tropical Forages — http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/index.htm ↩︎Mainly focussed on forage plants, the site gives a lot of information on the plant, with a good botanical description, details of cultivation, plant uses and a good selection of photographs.