The World Flora Online

27. Panicum maximum Jacq., Icon. Pl. Rar. 1: 2 (1781). Isotipo: Guadalupe, Jacquin s.n. (BM!). N.v.: Zacate guinea.

Por G. Davidse.

Urochloa maxima (Jacq.) R. Webster.

Perennes cespitosas. Tallos 50-300 cm, erectos a geniculados, comprimidos, infrecuentemente ramificados; entrenudos glabros; nudos glabros o pilosos. Vainas glabras a papiloso-hirsutas, ciliadas, el cuello generalmente hirsuto; membrana ligular 0.5-1.7 mm, los cilios 0.2-0.7 mm; láminas 20-85 cm x 8-35 mm, lineares, aplanadas, densamente hirsutas por detrás de la lígula, escabrosas, glabras a hirsutas. Panículas 13-60 cm, terminales, raramente axilares; ramas 8-35 cm, las inferiores verticiladas, escabriúsculas, ascendentes a patentes, los pulvínulos pelosos, los pedicelos a veces con unos cuantos tricomas largos. Espiguillas 2.8-3.7 mm, adpresas a ascendentes, solitarias, oblongo-elipsoides, glabras o pelosas, subagudas; gluma inferior 1-1.7 mm, 1/3-1/2 del largo de la espiguilla, 3-nervia, aguda; gluma superior ligeramente más corta que la lema inferior o tan larga como la espiguilla, 5-9-nervia, subaguda; flósculo inferior estaminado; lema inferior tan larga como la espiguilla, casi tan larga como el flósculo superior, 5-7-nervia, subaguda; pálea inferior tan larga como la lema inferior; anteras 1.4-2.1 mm; flósculo superior 2.3-2.8 x 0.9-1 mm, rugoso, opaco, diminutamente puberulento en el ápice, subagudo, sésil; anteras 1.3-1.7 mm. Bordes de caminos, áreas abiertas con malezas, potreros. T-P. 0-2000 m. (Nativa de África; introducida a todos los trópicos y subtrópicos.)

Éste es un importante pasto forrajero que ha sido ampliamente naturalizado.

Plantas cespitosas, (50–)75–350 cm. Hojas con la vaina glabra a papiloso-hirsuta, ciliada; lígula una mem-brana 0.5–1.5 mm, los cilios <0.7 mm; lámina 20–95 cm × 9–35 mm, linear, glabra a hirsuta, escabrosa. Infl.13–55(–65) cm, los racimos alternos a verticilados, 8–30 cm, escabriúsculos. Espiguillas solitarias, 2.7–3.8 mm,elipsoides, glabras (pelosas en var. pubiglume); gluma inferior 1–1.7 mm, trinervada; gluma superior tan largacomo la lema inferior o un poco más corta, 5–9-nervada; flósculo inferior estaminado; lema inferior tan largacomo la espiguilla, 5–7-nervada; flósculo superior ruguloso a rugoso.

Perennial, rhizomatous; rhizome stout. Culms robust, erect, 1–3 m tall, nodes glabrous or pilose. Leaves basal and cauline; leaf sheaths glabrous to hispid; leaf blades linear to narrowly lanceolate, flat, 20–60 × 1–3.5 cm, narrowed at base, glabrous or pilose, margins scabrid, apex acuminate; ligule 1–3 mm, membranous, with dense cilia dorsally. Panicle oblong or pyramidal in outline, 10–45 cm, much branched; branches spreading, lowest arranged in a whorl. Spikelets oblong, 3–4.5 mm, glabrous or pubescent, often tinged purple, obtuse or acute, occasionally overtopped by long hairs from apex of pedicel; lower glume broadly ovate, 1/3–1/2 length of spikelet, 3-veined, obtuse or acute; upper glume ovate-oblong, as long as spikelet, 5-veined, acute; lower floret staminate, lemma similar to upper glume, palea well developed; upper floret thinly coriaceous, pale yellow or green, shiny, finely transverse rugulose. Fl. and fr. Aug–Oct. 2n = 32.

Densely tufted perennial; culms 80-300 cm high, erect or ascending, often branched, the nodes usually bearded. Leaf-blades linear, 10-60(80) cm long, 4-20 (-40) mm wide, flat, glabrous, long-tapering to a fine point; lowermost sheaths strongly compressed and keeled. Panicle ovate, 10-45 cm long, contracted or open, the branches mostly bare in the lower half, the lowermost conspicuously whorled. Spikelets oblong, 2.5-3.6(4) mm long, glabrous or shortly and densely pubescent, acute or subobtuse; lower glume orbicular, hyaline, a quarter to a third the length of the spikelet, rounded or shortly acute, 1-3-nerved or sometimes almost nerveless; upper glume 5-7-nerved; lower lemma 5-7-nerved, its palea almost as long; upper lemma pallid, rugulose.

Panicum maximum Jacq. ... VER ... Megathrysus maximus

Introduced in America from Africa; Florida, Mexico, and the West Indies to Bolivia and Brazil. Commonly cultivated for forage, escaping in fields and waste places.

Perennial with stout rhizomes; culms usually in large clumps, 1-2.5 m. high, erect or sometimes geniculate at the lower nodes, the nodes usually densely hirsute; sheaths shorter than the internodes, papillose-hirsute or nearly glabrous; ligule 4-6 mm. long, densely ciliate; blades elongate, 1-2 cm. wide, narrowed toward the base, the margins very scabrous; panicles 20-45 cm. long, the branches ascend- ing or spreading, somewhat drooping at maturity, in rather distant whorls, naked toward the base, pilose in the axils; spikelets 3 mm. long, acute, glabrous, the first glume obtuse, about one-third as long as the spikelet; fruit 2.3-2.5 mm. long, transversely rugose.

There is considerable variation in size and indumentum of culms, leaves, inflorescences and spikelets across its distribution range. Resembles P. infestum, which has inflorescence sparsely branched, secondary branches usually absent, spikelet leathery and the closed spikelet with only the central nerve visible on the lower lemma.

Vredendal and Cape Peninsula to tropical Africa. Cape Peninsula to tropical Africa. Northwards to tropical Africa; and Madagascar. Widely introduced throughout tropics. N, B, S, LIM, NW, G, M, FS, KZN, NC, WC, EC. Cape Peninsula to tropical Africa. Northwards to tropical Africa; and Madagascar. Widely introduced throughout tropics. N, B, S, LIM, NW, G, M, FS, KZN, NC, WC, EC.

In shady places, especially under canopy of trees, in cultivated areas and along riverbanks, but well adapted to a variety of conditions. Shady places and along roadsides. Kalahari Deciduous Acacia-wooded Grassland; Dry Grassland; Dwarf Karroid Shrubland. Shady places; especially under canopy of trees; in cultivated areas and along riverbanks; but well adapted to a variety of conditions. Shady places. In shady places, especially under canopy of trees or open places, in cultivated areas and along river banks, but well adapted to a variety of conditions. Shady places and along roadsides. Kalahari Deciduous Acacia-wooded Grassland; Dry Grassland; Dwarf Karroid Shrubland. Shady places; especially under canopy of trees; in cultivated areas and along riverbanks; but well adapted to a variety of conditions. Shady places. In shady places, especially under canopy of trees or open places, in cultivated areas and along river banks, but well adapted to a variety of conditions.

Perennial or occasionally annual; up to 2 m high; loosely to densely tufted. Culms erect; geniculate; rooting at nodes. Leaf blades 6-40(-100) x 4-12(-35) mm. Flowers: panicle open; much branched with secondary branches well developed; flexuous; spikelets 2.5-3.0(-4.0) mm long; spikelets blunt or acute; rounded on back; cartilaginous; closed spikelet with many nerves clearly visible on lemma of lower floret; lower floret usually male with palea well developed; upper female-fertile lemma pale; conspicuously transversely rugose. Perennial, sometimes annual to 2 m. Leaves lanceolate. Spikelets ± 3 mm long, in an open panicle, purple, secondary branches flexuose, fertile lemma transversely wrinkled. Loosely to densely tufted, usually perennial, occasionally annual, to 2000 mm high, erect or geniculate, rooting at nodes; usually glabrous, sometimes hispid to pilose. Leaf blade 60-400(-1000) x 4-12(-35) mm. Inflorescence 120-450(-650) mm long, glabrous or pilose below, usually much branched, secondary branches well developed and flexuous, glabrous; lowest branches usually whorled. Spikelet 2.5-3.0(-4.0) mm long, mostly blunt or acute, back rounded; closed spikelet with many nerves clearly visible on lower lemma, cartilaginous, glabrous or hairy; lower glume 1/3-1/2 the spikelet length, 3-nerved; upper glume 5-nerved; lower floret usually male, lemma back rounded, palea well developed, slightly longer than upper floret; upper lemma and palea pale, conspicuously transversely rugose; anthers 1.5-2.0 mm long. Usually perennial or annual (occasionally), loosely to densely tufted (erect and geniculate, rooting at nodes), up to 2 m high. Leaf blades 6-40(-100) mm long, 4-12(-35) mm wide. Spikelets 2.5-3.0(-4.0) mm long. Inflorescence usually much-branched with secondary branches well developed and flexuous; spikelets blunt or acute, rounded on back, cartilaginous; the closed spikelet with many nerves clearly visible on lemma of lower floret; lower floret usually male with palea well developed; female-fertile (upper) lemma pale and conspicuously transversely rugose. Perennial, sometimes annual, up to 2 m tall. Leaves lanceolate; ligule a fringed membrane. Inflorescence an open panicle. Spikelets 2.5-5 mm long, awnless; glumes unequal, lower up to half as long as spikelet, upper 5-nerved; 2-flowered, lower floret male or rarely sterile, soft; upper floret fertile, lemma hard and transversely wrinkled. Perennial, sometimes annual to 2 m. Leaves lanceolate. Spikelets ± 3 mm long, in an open panicle, purple, secondary branches flexuose, fertile lemma transversely wrinkled. Loosely to densely tufted, usually perennial, occasionally annual, to 2000 mm high, erect or geniculate, rooting at nodes; usually glabrous, sometimes hispid to pilose. Leaf blade 60-400(-1000) x 4-12(-35) mm. Inflorescence 120-450(-650) mm long, glabrous or pilose below, usually much branched, secondary branches well developed and flexuous, glabrous; lowest branches usually whorled. Spikelet 2.5-3.0(-4.0) mm long, mostly blunt or acute, back rounded; closed spikelet with many nerves clearly visible on lower lemma, cartilaginous, glabrous or hairy; lower glume 1/3-1/2 the spikelet length, 3-nerved; upper glume 5-nerved; lower floret usually male, lemma back rounded, palea well developed, slightly longer than upper floret; upper lemma and palea pale, conspicuously transversely rugose; anthers 1.5-2.0 mm long. Usually perennial or annual (occasionally), loosely to densely tufted (erect and geniculate, rooting at nodes), up to 2 m high. Leaf blades 6-40(-100) mm long, 4-12(-35) mm wide. Spikelets 2.5-3.0(-4.0) mm long. Inflorescence usually much-branched with secondary branches well developed and flexuous; spikelets blunt or acute, rounded on back, cartilaginous; the closed spikelet with many nerves clearly visible on lemma of lower floret; lower floret usually male with palea well developed; female-fertile (upper) lemma pale and conspicuously transversely rugose. Perennial, sometimes annual, up to 2 m tall. Leaves lanceolate; ligule a fringed membrane. Inflorescence an open panicle. Spikelets 2.5-5 mm long, awnless; glumes unequal, lower up to half as long as spikelet, upper 5-nerved; 2-flowered, lower floret male or rarely sterile, soft; upper floret fertile, lemma hard and transversely wrinkled.