"Perennial, densely tufted, mostly up to 90 cm tall, sometimes taller, usually pale glaucous-green; culms mostly simple, nodes glabrous to densely hairy." (Stanley,T.D, and Ross, E.M. (1989))

Many enquiries arise for the seed of Panicum decompositum however its availability is limited and, in most cases, the taller Panicum queenslandicum is offered as a substitute with superior qualities for mine site rehabilitation. Where we directly observe it, P. decompositum tends to colonise on the heaviest soils, clay loams or alluviums, where there is persistent moisture. A nearby example consists of some of the deepest, heavy, black, self-mulching soils in Australia on a stock route where grazing is limited. Here, in the bottom of a long ditch which can be seasonally water-logged for many kilometres, grows P. decompositum as the dominant grass. Adjacent to this on higher, drier ground are sizeable areas where P. queenslandicum is dominant or sometimes codominant with Dichanthium sericeum. Another site that comes to mind are cleared gilgaied planes where brigalow previously grew. A strong inference could be made that P. decompositum will have difficulty on typically saline-sodic mine spoils where low rainfall and significant slopes further limit water availability to very low levels. In contrast, P. queenslandicum has proven to germinate, grow and produce seed in such dry conditions near Emerald in Queensland. The salinity of these spoils at the root zone is shown to decline over decadal periods of time and the hope is that such introductions will persist and improve over time.

Panicum decompositum is also recorded in sands including those in desert regions however high water availability remains an accompanying feature.

Panicum decompositum is quite leafy and its palatability to stock is recorded. "Produces a good bulk  of highly palatable feed after heavy summer rains or flooding." (Department of Primary Industries, NSW). More information in regard to the characteristics of P. decompositum as stock feed are available at the link below.

Stanley,T.D, and Ross, E.M. (1989). Flora of South Eastern Queensland, Volume 3.

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/species-varieties/native-millet