Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Batochloa

Batochloa is a genus of grasses. It includes a single species, Batochloa deusta, commonly known as broadleaf panicum or rietbuffelgras. It is a tufted or shortly rhizomatous perennial native to Senegal and to eastern and southern Africa from Sudan to South Africa. It grows in forests, deciduous bushland and grassland on argillaceous or arenaceous (sandy) soils.

Last revised
Jul 27, 2026
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Batochloa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Batochloa
Salariato & Zuloaga
Species:
B. deusta
Binomial name
Batochloa deusta
(Thunb.) Salariato & Zuloaga
Synonyms1
  • Panicum arundinifolium Schweinf.
  • Panicum corymbiferum Nees ex Steud.
  • Panicum deustum Thunb. (1794) (basionym)
  • Panicum deustum var. eburneum Chiov.
  • Panicum deustum var. hirsutum Peter
  • Panicum leptocaulon Trin.
  • Panicum menyharthii Hack.
  • Panicum pubivaginatum K.Schum.
  • Panicum unguiculatum Trin.

Batochloa is a genus of grasses. It includes a single species, Batochloa deusta, commonly known as broadleaf panicum2 or rietbuffelgras.3 It is a tufted or shortly rhizomatous perennial native to Senegal and to eastern and southern Africa from Sudan to South Africa.1 It grows in forests, deciduous bushland and grassland on argillaceous (heavy clay) or arenaceous (sandy) soils.4

Batochloa deusta is a larval food plant for the butterflies banded evening brown (Gnophodes betsimena diversa) and gold spotted sylph (Metisella metis paris).4

References

References

  1. "Batochloa deusta (Thunb.) Salariato & Zuloaga". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  2. "Panicum deustum Thunb". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. GBIF Secretariat. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  3. von Staden, L. "Panicum deustum Thunb". Red List of South African Plants. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  4. Hyde, M.A.; Wursten, B.T.; Ballings, P.; Coates Palgrave, M. "Panicum deustum Thunb". Flora of Mozambique. Retrieved 15 May 2025.