Panicum antidotale aka Blue Panic

Panicum antidotale is blue panic grass. It lives for more than two years. Its native range covers parts of western and southern Asia. Sources place it from Iran and Afghanistan east to Nepal. It also grows in the Himalayas and Upper Gangetic Plain. Wild plants grow on dunes and in dry river beds. In Pakistan, it grows in desert regions.

This grass grows fast and forms tufts of blue-green leaves. Its thin, wiry stems rise from a swollen base. A stout rootstock creeps outward and helps the plant spread. PFAF also notes strong rhizomes, stems that spread below ground. The detailed account gives heights of 4.9–8.9 feet [1.5–2.7 metres]. Both sources also list an upper height of 9.8 feet [3 metres]. Each flower has both male and female parts. Wind carries the pollen. The accounts give no bloom season or detailed fruit description.

Blue panic grass grows in warm temperate and tropical climates. It grows best with daytime temperatures of 18–25°C. Temperatures of −1°C or below can kill it. Whether it can survive Britain's cold remains unclear. It needs full sun and soil that drains well. Useful Tropical Plants favours rich, lime-rich heavy loam or dark clay. It does not thrive in acid sand. Sand low in organic matter does not suit it either. PFAF lists a wider range of soil textures and pH. It prefers moist soil, but deep roots help it endure drought. It can also cope when floods briefly soak the soil.

People use this grass to help hold soil in place. Growers have tested it as feed for livestock in several American states. These include Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and California. Its height and tufted form give it a large presence. Its spread calls for care when choosing a site. Both sources warn it may become a weed. Neither rates how severe this risk may be. The accounts name no specific pests or diseases. PFAF describes sowing in spring under glass, with seed just covered. It says to plant seedlings out after the last expected frost.

Reports record local use for food and medicine. The food report gives no clear details on how to prepare it. PFAF suggests seeds may be the edible part, but this remains unclear. In past practice, people used smoke from burning plants on wounds. They also used this smoke while treating smallpox. These records do not prove that such use helps or is safe. Both sources report no known hazards. That does not mean they have proved it safe.