Edible portion : Seeds, Grains, Cereal
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.
Distribution : 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.
Common names : Guinea grass seed, 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;