Urochloa panicoides is a fodder grass originating in Southern Africa.

Urochloa panicoides
Scientific classification Edit this 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
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

Description

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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.[2]

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

Distribution

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

Ecology

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

Usage

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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

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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

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Common names for the grass include barajalgauti, basaunta (Punjabi), tuinheesgras, heesgras, kurimanna (Afrikaans), sharp-flowered signal-grass,[3] 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).

References

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  1. ^ Mani, S. (2013). "Urochloa panicoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T177192A17669796. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ Clayton, W.D.; Vorontsova, M.S.; Harman, K.T.; Williamson, H. "Urochloa panicoides". GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.