50 FOOD-GRAINS OF INDIA. 



SHAM A MILLET. 

 Panicum colonum, L. 



Synonym Oplismenus colonus (Kunth.). 



Beng. Shama. North- West Provinces Sarwak, Shamak. 



This millet is common in the tropical and sub-tropical regions 

 of the Old World it ascends to 6,000 feet in the Himalaya. 

 The panicle contains 8 or 10 one-sided spikes, each /^ to 24 inch 

 long. The stems are erect or decumbent at the base, about 



2 feet or 3 feet high. 







COMPOSITION OF SHAMA (HUSKED). 



The nutrient ratio is here i : 8, and the nutrient-value 85. 



This millet, sometimes called "Wild Rice," or "Jungle Rice," 

 is a poor food ; it is used, however, in some places where it 

 grows freely (e.g., in Champaran), by a considerable number of 

 labourers as a usual article of diet. It is very good fodder-grass. 



Other species of Panicum are occasionally, especially in 

 times of drought, distress, or famine, consumed as food. Amongst 

 these may be named P. flavidum (Retz.) ; P. fluitans (Retz.) (the 

 common semi-aquatic species of Panicum) ; and P. hydaspicum 

 (Edge.). The last species grows wild in the Punjab ; Edgeworth 

 mentions that its seeds are swept up from the ground and are 

 eaten by the poor. Another species, P. psilopodium (" kutki," 

 "mijhri") is mentioned by Mr. Duthie as grown on the poorest 

 land and yielding about 2 maunds of seed per acre. Other 

 species named by the same authority are P. crus-galli (L.) 

 ("bharti"), yielding an edible grain and good fodder, and P. 

 Helopus (Trin.) (" kuri "), yielding an edible grain. 



