Megathyrsus maximus grows naturally in open grasslands, usually under or near trees and shrubs and along riverbanks. It can withstand wildfire and drought. The species has broad morphological and agronomic variability, ranging in height from 0.5 to 3.5 m (1.6 to 11.5 ft), with 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) stems. The polyploid plant also can reproduce through apomixis, effectively cloning itself through seed.[5]Panicles are open, with as many as 9,000 seeds per plant.
Uses
It can be used as a long-term foraging grass if grazed consistently and if fertilized. It is well suited for cut-and-carry, a practice in which grass is harvested and brought to a ruminant animal in an enclosed system. Shade tolerance makes it suited to coexisting with trees in agroforestry. Some varieties have been used successfully for making silage and hay. The leaves contain good levels of protein (6–25% depending on age and nitrogen supply).
^ abSimon, B. K., and Jacobs, S. W. (2003). Megathyrsus, a new generic name for Panicum subgenus Megathyrsus. Austrobaileya, 6(3), 571-574. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41739005