Panicum sumatrense

• Botanical Name : Panicum sumatrense Roth.
• Common Name : Gadro
• Plant Family : Poaceae (Gramineae)

• According to the Rules of ICBN the names of the families should end in -aceae. Thus the new name for the family Gramineae became Poaceae. However, the name Gramineae is also exempted and conserved under 'Nomina Conservanda' because of their constant use for a long time.

• Plant Form : Grasses
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Panicum sumatrense Plant :

• Habit : Annual with stem rather slender, erect or base geniculate, simple or branched, usually leafy up to the panicle.
• Leaves : Flat and sheaths hirsute with tubercle-based hairs, acute or acuminate, ligule a narrow row of hairs.
• Flowers :
  • Panicle 5-25 cm, lower branches long, pedicels of spikelets sometimes 1-2 cm.
  • Spikelets glabrous, rather flattened, usually green or purplish, glume first variable, white, membranous, margins overlapping at the base, nerves arching and anastomosing, second and third glume herbaceous, palea of third as long as its glume.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : August
• Significance :
  • The hunk is cooked like rice and eaten.
  • It is also made into flour, used for making puddings or cakes.