Panicum dichotomiflorum
Encyclopedia
Panicum dichotomiflorum, known by the common name Fall panicgrass, is a species of Poaceae
"true grass". It is native to much of the eastern United States and parts of Canada, and it can be found in the Western United States
through California
. It may be an introduced species
in some western climates. It grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas and chaparral
habitat
s.
growing decumbent or erect to a maximum height near one meter-3 feet. It can be distinguished from its relative, Panicum capillare - Witchgrass
by its hairless leaves. The inflorescence
is a large open panicle
up to 20 centimeters long and fanning out to a width of 16 centimeters.
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
"true grass". It is native to much of the eastern United States and parts of Canada, and it can be found in the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
through California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It may be an introduced species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
in some western climates. It grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas and chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s.
Description
Panicum dichotomiflorum is an annual grassGrass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
growing decumbent or erect to a maximum height near one meter-3 feet. It can be distinguished from its relative, Panicum capillare - Witchgrass
Panicum capillare
Panicum capillare, known by the common name Witchgrass, is a species of grass. It is native plant to most of North America from the East Coast through all of the West Coast and California. It can be found as an introduced species in Eurasia, and as a weed in gardens and landscaped areas...
by its hairless leaves. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a large open panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
up to 20 centimeters long and fanning out to a width of 16 centimeters.