# Guinea Grass (*Megathyrsus maximus*) Guinea Grass is a tall, green grass that grows in warm places. It is great for feeding animals and helps keep the soil healthy. You can find it in fields and pastures! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Guinea Grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Megathyrsus_maximus_head7_%287185350777%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Megathyrsus_maximus_head7_%287185350777%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Guinea Grass is a tall, clumping grass with broad, vibrant green leaf blades that can sometimes be tinged purple near the base. It produces distinctive, open, feathery seed heads that stand high above the foliage, often having a reddish or purplish hue. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Megathyrsus ## Interesting facts - Its tiny seeds can travel far, sometimes even "hitching a ride" on animal fur! - It’s a favorite meal for many grazing animals, keeping them happy and full. - Originally from Africa, it's now found in warm countries all around the world! - This grass loves sunshine and heat, growing super fast in tropical places! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Regrowth Power:** Guinea Grass can quickly grow back after being grazed or cut, helping it provide constant food for animals. - **Deep Root Anchor:** It has strong, deep roots that help it withstand dry spells and hold soil together like a natural net. - **Sunlight Supercharger:** This grass uses a special way to capture sunlight, allowing it to grow incredibly fast in warm, sunny places. - **Seed Spreader Extraordinaire:** It produces vast amounts of tiny seeds that easily spread, helping it colonize new areas quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round in warm climates, primarily summer-fall elsewhere - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — A primary food source for domesticated cattle globally. - **Eaten by:** [Zebra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zebra) (*Equus quagga*) — Wild zebras in African savannas depend on it for food. - **Eats:** [Desert Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-locust) (*Schistocerca gregaria*) — Locust swarms can devastate fields of Guinea Grass. ## Traits - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring grasslands and watch out for insects. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Guinea Grass? Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Guinea Grass? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Guinea Grass spread? 50-150 cm ### When does Guinea Grass bloom? Year-round in warm climates, primarily summer-fall elsewhere ### Is Guinea Grass edible? Yes ### Is Guinea Grass toxic? None ### What is Guinea Grass's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Guinea Grass pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Lyon Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyon-arboretum) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Enchanted Floral Gardens of Kula](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/enchanted-floral-gardens-of-kula) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-texas-botanical-gardens-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Wahiawa Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wahiawa-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Guinea Grass](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/guinea-grass) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Guinea Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/guinea-grass)