Quick facts
| Arabic name | الثمام |
|---|---|
| English name | Thumam (Desert Grass) |
| Scientific name | Panicum turgidum |
| Family | Grass family (Poaceae) |
| Plant type | Perennial desert grass |
| Height | Usually 50 to 100 cm |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
October to December
Harvest
Not harvested
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Planting timeHarvest or flowering
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
Stiff upright jointed stems, few leaves, small flower heads, and thick clumps.
Where it grows
Common on sand and plains in Riyadh, Madinah, Al-Qassim, Hail and Najran.
Soil
Sandy and gravel soil.
Water and irrigation
Needs no watering.
Climate and light
Hot with full sun.
Propagation
From seeds and by dividing clumps.
Benefits and uses
- Good grazing for camels and livestock
- Holds sand
- Used in projects to restore grazing land
Drawbacks
- Harmed by overgrazing
- Not very decorative in gardens
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Panicum turgidum
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Panicum turgidum
- Wikipedia: Panicum turgidum
- Chaudhary, S. A. (1999-2001). Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh.
- National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)