Herb: Smut Grass


Latin name: Sporobolus indicus


Synonyms: Sporobolus africanus, Sporobolus capensis, Sporobolus diandrus, Sporobolus jacquemontii, Sporobolus poiretii, Sporobolus pyramidalis


Family: Gramineae (Grass Family)



Medicinal use of Smut Grass:

The plant is used to enrich the blood, reduce swellings and correct gonorrhoea. It is considered to be an antifertility drug in some countries.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial

Habitat of the herb:

Found in poor dry soils in Australia. Is it native or naturalized there?

Edible parts of Smut Grass:

Seed - raw or cooked. It can be ground into a flour.

Other uses of the herb:

A fibre is obtained from the leaves.

Propagation of Smut Grass:

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation of the herb:

Found in poor dry soils in Australia. Is it native or naturalized there?

Known hazards of Sporobolus indicus:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.