Guinea grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Guinea grass
• green panic grass
• Barbe Grass
• Barbed Grass
• Brown Top Fuffelgrass
• Buffaloquickgrass
• Bush Buffalo-Grass
• Bush Buffel Grass
• Common Buffalo Grass
• Purple Top Buffalo Grass
• Purple Top Buffalobuffels Grass
• Purple-Top Buffalo Grass
• Rainbow Grass
• Ubabe
• Ubabe Grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Panicum maximum var. effusum
• Panicum mananarense
• Urochloa maxima var. trichoglumis
• Panicum jumentorum
• Urochloa maxima
• Panicum hirsutissimum
• Panicum heynei
• Panicum laeve
• Panicum eburneum
• Panicum bivonianum
• Panicum praelongum
• Panicum scaberrimum
• Panicum pamplemoussense
• Panicum mahafalense
• Panicum maximum
• Panicum maximum subsp. commune
• Panicum maximum subsp. pubescens
• Panicum maximum var. altissimum
• Panicum maximum var. coloratum
• Panicum maximum var. commune
• Panicum maximum var. confine
• Panicum maximum var. glaucum
• Panicum maximum var. heterotrichum
• Panicum maximum var. hirsutissimum
• Panicum maximum var. hirsutum
• Panicum maximum var. laeve
• Panicum maximum var. pubiglume
• Panicum maximum var. trichoglume
• Panicum teff
• Panicum tephrosanthum
• Panicum trichocondylum
• Megathyrsus maximus var. coloratus
• Megathyrsus maximus var. pubiglumis
• Megathyrsus bivonanus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Poales, it is classified under the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Megathyrsus, specifically as the species Megathyrsus maximus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Middle Europe, its presence is noted within the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it can be found in Southwestern Europe in Spain and in Southeastern Europe throughout Sicilia. Its range further extends into Northern Africa, specifically within Egypt. Finally, the species is also documented in the Macaronesian region, particularly among the Canary Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Megathyrsus maximus is characterized by its significant adaptability across diverse environmental landscapes, ranging from anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) to complex natural ecosystems such as the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), riparian forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), and ombrophilous forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial). This plant exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a wide vertical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum elevation of 2100 m AMSL. Throughout its range, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1400 m AMSL, highlighting its ability to thrive in both lowland tropical settings and higher montane environments.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Megathyrsus maximus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and survival mechanisms, the plant is classified as a hemicrypte, meaning its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by a layer of leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. This life form, consistent across its developmental stages as both a hemicryptophyte and a hemi-cryptophyte, enables the species to maintain long-term stability within its ecological niche while undergoing seasonal cycles of growth and dormancy.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Megathyrsus maximus is characterized by its growth form as a graminoid herb that is strictly non-woody in structure. This terrestrial plant functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting species that does not require climbing structures, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 5 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 1.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Megathyrsus maximus is characterized by a highly specialized metabolic and morphological framework, most notably its utilization of the C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows for efficient carbon fixation and high productivity under varying environmental conditions. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant dimensional variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 25 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width displays a range between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 1.8 cm, maintaining a mean leaf width of 0.7 cm. Despite these morphological dimensions, the species does not exhibit succulence, indicating a lack of specialized water-storage tissues within its leaves.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

0.15 cm

Leaf width max:

1.8 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Megathyrsus maximus involves both sexual and asexual strategies, as asexual reproduction is known to be present in this species. Its sexual reproductive cycle is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing wind to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The resulting fruits are classified as dry, containing seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical dimensions, with a seed volume of exactly 0.99 mm³. The seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000758 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00051 g to a maximum of 0.00222 g. Regarding the movement of offspring, the plant employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, lacking highly specific mechanisms for seed distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass max:

0.00222 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000758033333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00051 g

Seed volume max:

0.99 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Megathyrsus maximus has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include -carotene, Ash, CA, CALCIUM, Chlorine-.

-carotene

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CA

1. Journal of animal science

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Chlorine-

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

HCN

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke

MG

1. Journal of animal science

Activities

Megathyrsus maximus has 185 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-HETE-Inhibitor, Acarifuge, Acnegenic, Allergenic, Analgesic.

5-HETE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acnegenic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMD

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMS

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Megathyrsus maximus has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf fractions, stem fractions.

Leaf fractions

1. The British journal of nutrition

Stem fractions

1. The British journal of nutrition