Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) (Jacq.) B. K. Simon & S. W. L.

Jacobs) is a major pantropical grass used throughout the tropics for

pasture, cut-and-carry, silage and hay. It is a fast growing and leafy
grass, which is palatable to livestock with a good nutritional value.
However, it is generally recommended to supplement it with sources of
protein in order to meet nutritional requirements or improve animal
performance.

Dichanthium aristatum is a species of grass. It is commonly used as a

forage for livestock. Common names include angleton grass (Australia,
Cuba);
alabang X (Philippines); angleton blue-stem, yellow bluestem (USA);
wildergrass (Hawai'i); hierba.

Mimosa pudica is a type of herbaceous plant that belongs to the legume

family. It originates from South and Central America, but it can be found
in tropical and subtropical areas around the world today. Mimosa inhabits
disturbed areas, orchards, pastures, parks, gardens and areas near the roads.
It grows on a well-drained soil, in sunny areas or in a partial shade.
Mimosa easily conquers new habitats and eliminates native species of
plants. It is classified as invasive species in many countries in the world.

Calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.) is a vigorous, hairy annual or

short-lived perennial trailing legume. It can reach several meters in length
and form a dense, tangled mass of foliage, 30-50 cm deep. The root
system is dense and shallow, at most 50 cm deep. The stems are succulent,
covered with long, brown hairs. They are creeping in the lower parts,
sometimes rooting at the nodes that come in contact with the soil. The
upper part of the stem is twining. The leaves are up to 16 cm long and
trifoliate. The hairy leaflets are 4-10 cm long x 2-5 cm broad, ovate to
elliptical. The inflorescence is a slender hairy raceme that may be up to 20
cm long and bears 2 to 12 blue or purple small flowers. The fruits are 3-8
seeded hairy pods, 2-4 cm long (FAO, 2011; Cook et al., 2005; Chin Chen Peng et al., 1997).
Star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus (K. Schum.) Pilger) is a robust,
stoloniferous perennial grass with underground rhizomes. The stolons are
thick, woody, with long internodes arching above the soil surface. They
are fast-growing and form dense turf. The culms are robust, 30-90 cm
high. The leaves are 10-30 cm long and 4-7 mm wide, soft and hairy.
Giant star grass bears several racemes (7-20), 3-7 cm long, curling
upwards at maturity. The spikelets are 2.5-3 mm long. The glumes are a
conspicuous feature, as they are reduced to small triangular scales one-
fifth the length of the spikelet (Taliaferro et al., 2004; Bogdan, 1977).
Giant star grass is palatable to all classes of livestock (Bogdan, 1977). It is considered a valuable
pasture for drier areas, but of low competitive vigour when mixed in swards with Cynodon
nlemfuensis (Taliaferro et al., 2004).
Paspalum conjugatum, commonly known as carabao grass or hilo
grass, is a tropical to subtropical perennial grass. It is originally from
the American tropics, but has been naturalized widely in
tropical Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands. It has also spread
to Northern Africa and Northern and Eastern Australia. It is also known
as sour paspalum, T-grass (after the shape of their panicle), or more
confusingly, as "buffalo grass" or "sour grass".
(Macroptilium atropurpureum) Siratro is a legume which is native to
tropical America, and widely used in coastal eastern Queensland and
coastal New South Wales as a pasture plant. Siratro is commonly seen
growing on roadsides, in disturbed sites and in areas not grazed by
livestock. As an environmental weed, siratro can form dense
infestations along forest edges, and will grow over native shrubs,
grasses or young trees, effectively smothering them.

Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) is a perennial rhizomatous

grass, up to 1 m high, notable for its prominent, dual V-shaped
inflorescences (6 cm long). Its root system can be up to 2 m deep.
Several commercial cultivars are available. It is mostly used for
pasture (FAO, 2009).

Lantana camara (common lantana) is a heavily branched

shrub that can grow in compact clumps, dense thickets or as a
climbing vine. The stems are square in cross section, with
small, recurved prickles. Most leaves are about 6 cm long and
are covered in fine hairs. They are bright green above, paler
beneath and have round-toothed edges.

Paragis is an erect, tufted, and glabrous grass with long and

tapered leaves. It can grow between 10 centimeters and 1
meter in height. Personally, I used to hate this grass growing in
our backyard garden. It's simply an eyesore among our
vegetables and crops.

Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb.) is a large perennial

(pluri-annual) tropical forage legume. It is a branched decumbent plant with long
trailing and climbing pubescent stems that root at the nodes. The stems are green
or sometimes red, 1.5 to 7.5 m long and about 7 mm in diameter. Greenleaf
desmodium has many trifoliate leaves. The leaflets are ovate, 2-7 cm long x 1.5-5.5
cm broad, reddish-brown to purple in colour. The flowers are borne on terminal
compact racemes, deep lilac to deep pink in colour. The pods are narrow,
segmented, 5 cm long and contain 8 to 12 kidney-shaped seeds that adhere
strongly to hair or clothing. The seeds are about 3 mm long x 1.5 mm wide.
Greenleaf desmodium is leafier than silverleaf desmodium (Desmodium
uncinatum (Jacq.) DC.), with rounder leaflets (USDA NRCS, 2012; Cook et al.,
2005; Skerman, 1982).

Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) is an important

tropical grass widespread in tropical and subtropical
countries. It is a useful forage for pasture and hay, drought-
resistant and very productive, of high quality when young.

Centro (Centrosema molle Mart. ex Benth.) is a vigorous twining,

trailing and climbing perennial legume. It has a deep root-system
with tap roots and lateral roots. Leaves are dark green and
trifoliate (Ecocrop, 2009). Leaflets are ovate, 4 cm long x 3.5 cm
broad. Flowers, borne in axillary racemes, are bright or pale lilac
with violet stripes. Pods are linear, slightly twisted, 7.5 cm to 15
cm long and become dark brown when ripe. They contain up to
20 seeds (FAO, 2009).
Noxious Weed Hagonoy (Chromolaena odorata) is a tropical and
subtropical species of flowering shrub in the sunflower family. It is
native to the Americas, from Florida and Texas in the United States
south through Mexico and the Caribbean to South America. It has been
introduced to tropical Asia, west Africa, and parts of Australia

Mutha is a common name shared by both Cyperus rotundus

(botobotones) and Kyllinga monocephala (anuang, borobotones).
They have similar characteristics, and K. monocephala has been
questioned on its use as a substitute. Rhizomes have similar
appearances, and as crude drugs are hard to differentiate.

Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis (Aublet) Sw.) is a tropical legume shrub

widely grown for forage throughout the tropics and subtropics. tylo is a
short-lived, erect or semi-erect perennial legume that can reach a height of
1-1.5 m. Stylo has a strong taproot that is nodulated. The stems are many-
branched and may be woody at the base. Stylo does not twin, unlike other
legumes. Stylo is a leafy species that remains green under dry conditions.
The leaves are trifoliolate with elliptical to lanceolate leaflets, 0.5-45 mm
long x 20 mm broad. The inflorescence is a densely flowered spike, with
up to 40 flowers/head. Flowers are yellow to orange with black or red
stripes. The fruit is a one-seeded pod, 2-3 mm long x 1.5-2.5 mm wide.
The seed are very small, pale brown or purple in colour.

Napier grass florida or Elephant grass (Pennisetum

purpureum Schumach.) is a major tropical grass. It is
one of the highest yielding tropical grasses. It is a very
versatile species that can be grown under a wide range
of conditions and systems: dry or wet conditions,
smallholder or larger scale agriculture. It is a valuable
forage and very popular throughout the tropics, notably
in cut-and-carry systems (Mannetje, 1992; FAO, 2015).

Pakchong 1 is the official name of this special grass but it

is better known among local readers as the “Super Napier,”
which we wrote about more than a year ago.

We called it Super Napier because it is outstanding in a

number of significant ways. Compared to the old napier
variety, it is much higher yielding. In Thailand, one
hectare of Pakchong 1 can produce as much as 500 tons
of biomass in one year. The grass is cut every 45 to 60
days after the first harvest, which is 90 days from planting.