Panicum turgidum[1] is an old world clumping desert
bunchgrass of the genus Panicum. It is a plant of arid regions across Africa and Asia, and has been introduced to other parts of the world.
Description
Panicum turgidum is a
perennial bunchgrass, growing in dense bushes up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall. The stems are long-jointed, hard and polished, with few leaves, resembling bamboo shoots. Side shoots branch out at the nodes, and the stems bend over and root when the nodes get buried. The
inflorescence is a terminal panicle up to 10 cm (4 in) long with solitary spikelets some 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) long. The roots are covered in hairs to which fine sand adheres creating a felted appearance.[2] This is a drought- and salt-tolerant species,[3] and used for flour, fodder, thatch and
erosion control.[2]
Distribution and habitat
It is common across the
Sahara and
Arabia, from
Senegal to
Pakistan, and known by a number of common names, most widely as Taman, tuman, or thaman in Egypt and Arabia; merkba or markouba in Mauritania and some Saharan Arabics; and afezu in
Tamachek.[4] Other common names include guinchi (eastern
Sahara) and du-ghasi (
Somalia). It grows on sand dunes in hot, dry climates, and will also grow in
latosols.[2]
Ecology
In the Nigerien Sahara, tussocks of Panicum turgidum act as a nurse plants for tree regeneration. They have been shown facilitating the regeneration of Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana by protecting seedlings from drought and domestic herbivory. Accordingly, transplanting seedlings of Saharan trees inside Panicum’s tussocks may promote substantially reforestation in degraded areas on a long-term scale.[5] The leaves and shoots of this grass are palatable to livestock, and camels and donkeys will also eat it in the dry state.[2]
Anthelme, F.; R. Michalet & M. Saadou (February 2007). "Positive associations involving the tussock grass Panicum turgidum Forssk. in the Aïr-Ténéré Reserve, Niger". Journal of Arid Environments. 68 (3): 348–62.
Bibcode:
2007JArEn..68..348A.
doi:
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.07.007.
Williams, J. T.; Farias, R. M. (1972). "Utilisation and taxonomy of the desert grass Panicum turgidum". Economic Botany. 26 (1): 13–20.
doi:
10.1007/BF02862257.
S2CID37174542.
Clayton, W.D., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
Panicum turgidum. (accessed 4 January 2009)