Blue Panic Hay

Description

B lue panic (Panicum antidotale Retz.) is a vigorous, tufted perennial grass that can reach 1.5 m to 3 m high (Ecocrop, 2011; FAO, 2011; Surhone et al., 2010). It is deeply rooted and develops from short, thick and somewhat bulbous rhizomes. Its stems are erect, hard, almost woody, swollen at the base, looking like sugarcane stems The leaves are smooth, bluish (hence the name blue panic), 15-30 cm long x 4-12 mm wide (Freckmann, 2011; Quattrocchi, 2006). The sheaths are 4-8 cm long and glabrous . The inflorescence is a 13-30 cm long panicle with 3 mm long spikelets borne on 2.5 mm long woody stalks. Panicum antidotale is mainly used for fodder and grain production. Several cultivars are commercially available (FAO, 2011).