| Megathyrsus maximus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Genus: | Megathyrsus |
| Species: | M. maximus |
| Binomial name | |
| Megathyrsus maximus | |
| Synonyms | |
Megathyrsus maximus, known asGuinea grass andgreen panic grass,[2] is a largeperennialbunch grass that is native toAfrica andYemen. It has beenintroduced in thetropicsaround the world. It has previously been calledUrochloa maxima andPanicum maximum. It was moved to the genusMegathyrsus in 2003.[1][4]
Megathyrsus maximus grows naturally in opengrasslands, usually under or neartrees andshrubs andalong riverbanks. It can withstandwildfire anddrought. The species has broad morphological and agronomic variability, ranging in height from 0.5 to 3.5 m (1.6 to 11.5 ft), with 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) stems. Thepolyploid plant also can reproduce throughapomixis, effectively cloning itself through seed.[5]Panicles are open, with as many as 9,000seeds per plant.
It can be used as a long-term foraging grass ifgrazed consistently and if fertilized. It is well suited for cut-and-carry, a practice in which grass is harvested and brought to aruminant animal in an enclosed system. Shade tolerance makes it suited to coexisting with trees inagroforestry. Some varieties have been used successfully for makingsilage and hay. The leaves contain good levels ofprotein (6–25% depending on age and nitrogen supply).
In some places, such as SouthTexas,Sri Lanka[6] andHawai'i,[7] it is aninvasiveweed that suppresses or displaces localnative plants and is a fire hazard.[8]
In the Australian state ofQueensland, theQueensland Acclimatisation Society introduced Guinea grass to 22 locations between 1865 and 1869.[9]