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Panicum trichocladum K. Schum. |
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Graminae Donkey grass, ikoka (Tanzania). A slender perennial with long trailing stems which may root at the nodes. Leaf-blades narrowly lanceolate. Panicle 5-16 cm long with very slender branches and pedicels; spikelets oblong, obtuse, 2.5-3 mm long. Throughout Central, East and southern Africa. At Mlingano, with 1 000 mm rainfall in north coastal Tanzania, it remains green throughout the year (van Voorthuizen, 1971). Sea-level to 2 000 m. At Mlingano, it grows on deep red loam soils derived from gneiss (van Voorthuizen, 1971). In uncultivated land it can be controlled with TCA (trichloracetic acid), but in sisal, dalapon has been effective. Monuron at 9 kg/ha also exerts some control (Ivens, 1967). It is an aggressive grass; it invaded pasture mixtures at Tanga, Tanzania (Hopkinson, 1970). Forest undergrowth and edges of bush forest. 2n=32 (Fedorov, 1974). A common weed of arable crops and waste land, particularly infesting coffee and sisal crops in East Africa; it is troublesome in sisal bulb nurseries (Ivens, 1967). From analyses it would appear to be adequate for beef cattle maintenance, but for finishing cattle for slaughter its crude protein content is too low during the dry months (van Voorthuizen, 1971).Grass genera of the world: Information about botany, ecology etc. of the panicum genus; links to photographs of different species van Voorthuizen, 1971. |