What is the common name for Panicum maximum?

Guinea grass
Guinea grass used to be known as Panicum maximum Jacq. In 2003, the subgeneric name Megathyrsus was raised to generic rank and the plant was renamed Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.)

Can you eat guinea grass?

The ripe seed heads of guinea grass can be harvested and eaten raw, just make sure they are green and not black, brown or purple with fungus. They can also be harvested and roasted lightly in the oven and have a nice flavor like roasted peanuts.

Where does guinea grass come from?

Guinea grass is mostly grown in the wet and seasonally dry tropics of Australia, preferably with a rainfall over 1,500 mm, but will extend into about 1000 mm rainfall areas in the subtropics. Both listed cultivars have good drought tolerance.

Is guinea grass good for horses?

Horses grazing some tropical grasses for extended periods can suffer `Big Head’ disease or Osteodystrophia fibrosa. These grasses are buffel grass, green panic, setaria, kikuyu, guinea grass, para grass, pangola grass and signal grass. Calcium oxalate is insoluble and unavailable to the horse.

Where did the name Megathyrsus maximus come from?

Megathyrsus maximus was formerly known as Panicum maximum, placed in a subgenus of Panicum, within the grass subfamily Panicoideae. This subfamily includes over 3000 species, approximately 500 of them in the polymorphic and polyphyletic genus Panicum.

What kind of grass is Megathyrsus maximus in?

Megathyrsus maximus was formerly known as Panicum maximum, placed in a subgenus of Panicum, within the grass subfamily Panicoideae.

How big does a Megathyrsus maximus panicle get?

FAMILY Poaceae Megathyrsus maximus (syn. Panicum maximum) Guinea Grass Grass, clumping to 3 m tall Leaves long, up to 2 cm wide, leaf-sheath may be hairy. Inflorescence a panicle with many whorls to 50 cm long.

How many species of Megathyrsus are there in the world?

This subfamily includes over 3000 species, approximately 500 of them in the polymorphic and polyphyletic genus Panicum. P. maximum was the sole species in Panicum subgenus Megathyrsus, now elevated to genus rank.