Guinea grass seed
Panicum maximum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. which keeps growing from year to year. It forms tufts. It has short underground stems or rhizomes. It can be 2-3 m tall. The leaf blades are 15-30 cm long. The flower part of the flowering head has side branches in a ring. The flowering head is open and branched. It has a central upright stem. The long thin side branches grow out from this. The flowers are small and oval and 2-3 mm long. They are on small wavy stalks.

There are about 500 Panicum species. It is a good fodder grass.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It will grow on a range of soils but grows best on fertile soils. It is often on alluvial river flats. It can tolerate shade. It grows between 20-2,100 m above sea level. It grows in hot arid areas. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 300-1,500 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo DR, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Lesotho, Lesser Antilles, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The grains are roasted, dried thoroughly, and then pounded. They are then boiled and eaten salted or unsalted, and/or with a relish.

Edible parts

Seeds, grains, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Baldhoole, Capim coloninho, Chipufu, Chiundzi, Gamelote, Gini hullu, Gini pullu, Ginigawat, Ginighas, Guinit, Linganga, Lipumbe, Lumbunga, Msonthe, Mundundu, Murumbu, Naporre, Pastoa colonial, Pasto guinea, Pokopoko, Rumput benggala, Silunbentam-o, Suket londa

Synonyms

Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B. K. Simon & Jacobs; Panicum eburneum Trin.; Panicum heynii Roth; Panicum jumentorum Pers.; Panicum laeve Lam.; Panicum praelongum Steud.; Panicum scaberrimum Lag.; Panicum teff Desv.; Panicum tephrosanthum Schinz; Panicum trichocondylum Steud.; Urochloa maxima (Jacq.) R. D. Webster;