Panicum coloratum explained

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 tall. The leaf blades are 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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/Panicum_coloratum.htm Panicum coloratum.
  2. http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/past/bambatsi%20panic.pdf Bambatsi Panic.
  3. http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_paco2.pdf Panicum coloratum.
  4. http://herbarium.usu.edu/webmanual/info2.asp?name=Panicum_coloratum&type=treatment Panicum coloratum.
  5. Blake, C. Kleingrass gains ground in desert ag. Western Farm Press September 3, 2009.
  6. Behling, A. Kleingrass catches on. Hay and Forage Grower February 1, 2001.
  7. Murata, S. and J. Sekiya. (1992). Effects of sodium on photosynthesis in Panicum coloratum. Plant Cell Physiol 33(8) 1239-42.
  8. Matoh . Tōru . Murata . Shinji . Sodium Stimulates Growth of Panicum coloratum through Enhanced Photosynthesis . Plant Physiology . 1 April 1990 . 92 . 4 . 1169–1173 . 10.1104/pp.92.4.1169 . 16667386 . 1062431 .
  9. Seffino . L. García . Salinity effects on the early development stages of Panicum coloratum : cultivar differences . Grass and Forage Science . September 1998 . 53 . 3 . 270–278 . 10.1046/j.1365-2494.1998.00139.x .
  10. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/22815.htm Hepatotoxic Plants.
  11. Bridges . C. H. . Camp . B. J. . Livingston . C. W. . Bailey . E. M. . Kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) Poisoning in Sheep . Veterinary Pathology . November 1987 . 24 . 6 . 525–531 . 10.1177/030098588702400609 . 3455080 . 29404698 .
  12. http://www.livestockweekly.com/papers/99/05/20/whlklein.asp Sheep, goat producers should watch for kleingrass problems.

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