Panicum colonum – Famine Foods

Panicum colonum

Synonym(s):
Oplismenus colonus

Uses

India: a wild grain which is ground into flour, sometimes being mixed with Zea mays, L. or gram (Phaseolus mungo, L. [syn. Phaseolus aureus, Roxb. {FABACEAE}]), baked into bread, and eaten with chutney, onions, forest fruits, or boiled leaves. The seeds are sun-dried, then rammed or threshed to remove the husks. When roughly ground (Bhil: Kodri), it is cooked like rice, in salted water, and eaten with legumes, or chutney, and called by the Bhils Rab or Ghena. It is considered to be a ‘cool’ food.

Additional Information

Name Authority:
L.
Vernaculars:
Bhils: Champaran. Bombay Presidency - Khandesh district, Shirpur: Shama, Sarwak, Shamak, Shama millet, Wild rice, Jungle rice,Tan; Surat district Bardoli: Zari ; Broach district, Anklesvar: Samo; Kaira district, Matar: Sama.
Misc:
Chemical composition (after Paton & Dunlop) (grams per 100g): Protein = 10.68g. Fat = 5.20g. Carbohydrate (soluble) = 51.16g. Fibre = 14.68g. Ash = 7.35g. Water = 10.93g. Calories = 301. Soil type favored by plant: black, cultivable; swampish in rainy season, stream verges.

 Plant Classification Group:
 Plant Locations:
 Plant References:

Location Map

This site is provided to Mr. Freedman by Dr. Jules Janick, Emeritus Professor and Former James Troop Distinguished Professor of Horticulture. The content on this site is provided and maintained by Mr. Freedman.