Panicum laetum Kunth

Annual; culms erect or ascending, 17–70 cm. high.. Leaf-sheaths glabrous, rarely sparsely pilose or hispid; blades linear-lanceolate, 4–24 cm. long, 5–10 mm. wide, straight at the base, glabrous, acuminate.. Panicle ovate, 7–20 cm. long, much branched, the branching somewhat irregular, spreading at maturity.. Spikelets ovate, 2.5–3 mm. long, glabrous, acute; lower glume broadly ovate, 1/2 as long as the spikelet, 5-nerved; upper glume ovate, 7–9-nerved, acute; lower lemma ovate, 9-nerved, sterile, its palea well developed; upper lemma pale and glossy.

A tropical plant. It grows on sandy soil. It grows in semi-arid regions. It grows in the African Savannah. It is often in black soils on seasonally flooded areas. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall above 100 mm. It grows between 1,000-1,300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

The seeds are ground and used to make porridge. It is used in kreb a grain mixture eaten in Chad.

Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds germinate better if treated.