The numerous, tiny seeds of the crowfoot grass are collected wildly in times of food scarcity, slightly roasted and ground into a flour from which a thin gruel or porridge can be prepared. However, the seeds do not taste very good and can cause internal disorders. In addition to the low yield, this is probably a decisive reason why this cereal is only consumed in times of need.

I found these spikes in Oman by the roadside. It may even be indigenous Dactyloctenium robecchii. However, D. aegyptium is a common weed in hot regions of the world, including Oman.

• Edible Seeds
• Type of fruit Caryopsis
• Culinary Group Cereals Famine Food
• Taste neutral
• Trivial Names Krähenfuß-Gras, Crowfoot-grass, Egyptian grass, Coast Button Grass, Beach wiregrass, comb fringe grass, Duck grass, Durban crowfoot, Egyptian fingergrass, Finger comb grass, Four-finger grass, Pungphai
• Size 2 cm (spikelet) 0,7 mm (Seed)
• Taxonomy Poaceae (Grass family) Dactyloctenium aegyptium
• Origin East Africa, Near East (Map)
• Locality Gathered: Roadside in Oman 2017