Guinea Grass Megathyrsus maximus

Common name - Guinea grass

Botanical name - Megathyrsus maximus

Family              - Poaceae

Life cycle - Perennial 

Morphology

• Commonly grows up to 1.5m high, some individual plants have been recorded at 3m.
• Leaf blades are long, narrow and finely tipped.
• Leaves have a prominent mid-rib and are about 1cm wide.
• Seed heads are large, up to 40cm long and are well-spread, with a large number of fine branches.
• Seeds are oblong-shaped and often purple.

Propagation 

• By Seeds & slowly via rhizomes

Agricultural usage/ importance 

• Forms clumps and may cause soil erosion in invaded areas.
• Continued use as a fodder grass may lead to invasion of areas inaccessible to livestock and native areas.

Control method 

• Dig out with a mattock or similar tool.
• Glyphosate and fluazifop-p-butyl have been found to be effective.