Panicum maximum
Panicum maximum
Safety & Hazards
In South Africa, it is suspected to cause a sheep disease ("dikoor"), perhaps in conjunction with a smut. The plant is said to cause fatal colic if eaten too wet or in excess. Traces of HCN occur in stems and leaves, more in the roots[ 269 Title Handbook of Energy Crops Publication Author Duke. J. Website https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/dukeindex.html Publisher - Year 1983 ISBN - Description Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of both temperate and tropical plants. ].
Botanical Description
Panicum maximum is a densely clump-forming, perennial grass with erect or ascending culms. The plant often has shortly-creeping rhizomes at the base and can also produce new roots at the lower nodes of the culms. Widely cultivated, there are low/medium height forms from 100 - 150cm tall and also tall forms that can reach 250 - 300cm or more[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The plant tillers profusely, producing tufts or clumps up to 30 cm or more wide[ 269 Title Handbook of Energy Crops Publication Author Duke. J. Website https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/dukeindex.html Publisher - Year 1983 ISBN - Description Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of both temperate and tropical plants. ]. This species is one of the most important cultivated range and fodder grasses of lowland tropical America and can also be grown to produce biomass for making alcohol[ 269 Title Handbook of Energy Crops Publication Author Duke. J. Website https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/dukeindex.html Publisher - Year 1983 ISBN - Description Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of both temperate and tropical plants. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. It is also used locally as a source of materials and for a few minor medicinal uses.