Panicum coloratum | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
Genus: | Panicum |
Species: | P. coloratum
|
Binomial name | |
Panicum coloratum |
Panicum coloratum is a species of grass known by the common names kleingrass, blue panicgrass [1] (USA), [2] [3] white buffalograss (southern Africa); [1] Bambatsi panic, makarikari grass, [2] and coolah grass (Australia). [1] It is native to Africa, [3] and it has been introduced elsewhere, such as the United States and Australia, and bred into many cultivars. [1]
This plant is variable in appearance. [1] In general, is a perennial bunchgrass which usually has rhizomes. The firm, mostly upright stems grow up to 1.4 m (4.6 ft) tall. The leaf blades are 10 to 30 cm (3.9 to 11.8 in) long. [4] They are green to a waxy blue-green color. [1] The panicles are variable in length. [4] The spikelets are green and purple. [1]
This grass is used as a pasture grass and to make hay. [1] It produces a large amount of forage for animals. [3] It is drought-tolerant and does well in hot climates. [5] This C4 plant can grow on saline soils [6] and requires some of sodium for effective photosynthesis. [7] [8] Different cultivars have varying tolerances of sodium. [9] While it makes a good graze for most animals, the grass has occasionally been associated with liver damage and photosensitivity in young ruminants and horses. [3] [10] [11] This photosensitivity can lead to sunburn, which causes swelling of the head and ears of the animal, a condition commonly called "swellhead". [12]
Cultivars include 'Pollock', 'Bambatsi', [2] 'Bushman Mine', 'Verde', [1] and 'Kabulabula'. [8]
Panicum coloratum | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
Genus: | Panicum |
Species: | P. coloratum
|
Binomial name | |
Panicum coloratum |
Panicum coloratum is a species of grass known by the common names kleingrass, blue panicgrass [1] (USA), [2] [3] white buffalograss (southern Africa); [1] Bambatsi panic, makarikari grass, [2] and coolah grass (Australia). [1] It is native to Africa, [3] and it has been introduced elsewhere, such as the United States and Australia, and bred into many cultivars. [1]
This plant is variable in appearance. [1] In general, is a perennial bunchgrass which usually has rhizomes. The firm, mostly upright stems grow up to 1.4 m (4.6 ft) tall. The leaf blades are 10 to 30 cm (3.9 to 11.8 in) long. [4] They are green to a waxy blue-green color. [1] The panicles are variable in length. [4] The spikelets are green and purple. [1]
This grass is used as a pasture grass and to make hay. [1] It produces a large amount of forage for animals. [3] It is drought-tolerant and does well in hot climates. [5] This C4 plant can grow on saline soils [6] and requires some of sodium for effective photosynthesis. [7] [8] Different cultivars have varying tolerances of sodium. [9] While it makes a good graze for most animals, the grass has occasionally been associated with liver damage and photosensitivity in young ruminants and horses. [3] [10] [11] This photosensitivity can lead to sunburn, which causes swelling of the head and ears of the animal, a condition commonly called "swellhead". [12]
Cultivars include 'Pollock', 'Bambatsi', [2] 'Bushman Mine', 'Verde', [1] and 'Kabulabula'. [8]