Urochloa panicoides

Urochloa panicoides
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Genus:	Urochloa
Species:	U. panicoides
Binomial name
Urochloa panicoides P.Beauv.
Synonyms
Panicum borzianum Panicum controversum Panicum helopus Panicum hirsutum Panicum hochstetteranum Panicum javanicum Panicum oxycephalum Panicum panicoides Panicum setarioides Urochloa helopus Urochloa marathensis Urochloa panicoides Urochloa pubescens Urochloa ruschii

Urochloa panicoides is a fodder grass originating in Southern Africa.

Description

This annual grass has decumbent or upright stems up to a meter long. It may root where its lower nodes contact the substrate. The leaves have linear or lance-shaped blades up to 25 centimeters long. They are hairless to somewhat hairy, and they may have hairs lining the edges. The inflorescence is composed of up to 10 racemes, each up to 7 centimeters long. The spikelets are solitary or paired.

Urochloa panicoides can be confused with Urochloa setigera, but the morphology of the spikelet is slightly different.

Distribution

This grass is native to southern Africa. It has naturalized elsewhere, including Australia, Argentina, India and the United States.

Ecology

It is most common on moist grasslands and lakesides up to an altitude of 2200 meters.

Usage

This grass is often used as a fodder for cattle and horses. It is now known as a weed and a potential seed contaminant.

Diseases and pests

This grass is susceptible to the maize streak virus (MSV), which is transmitted by Cicadulina leafhoppers such as Cicadulina mbila, C. arachidis, C. triangula, C. bimaculata, C. similis, C. latens, C ghaurii, and C. parazeae.

It is also susceptible to cereal chlorotic mottle virus, which is transmitted by several insects, including Nesoclutha pallida and Cicadula bimaculata.

Common names

Common names for the grass include barajalgauti, basaunta (Punjabi), tuinheesgras, heesgras, kurimanna (Afrikaans), sharp-flowered signal-grass, annual signal grass, garden signal grass, panic liverseed grass, herringbone grass (English), kuri millet (in Zimbabwe), pasto africano (Italian), farsho (Somali), kgolane, and bore-ba-ntjia (Sotho).