Hamil grass

(Panicum maximum)

Hamil grass is a very tall variety of guinea grass, robust, smoother and growing to 3.0-3.5 m. The leaves are darker green than in Riversdale or Makueni, the stem nodes hairless, but the basal leaf sheaths bear stiff hairs. It grows on more poorly drained soils than other guinea grasses, and seeds more freely. It is well accepted by cattle, and its tall growth makes it attractive in tropical countries where most fodder is cut rather than grazed.