western panicgrass

Family

Poaceae

Scientific Name

Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum

Other Common Names:

short-leaved panic grass

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Panicum glutinoscabrum

Dichanthelium lanuginosum

Panicum pacificum

Panicum lassenianum

Panicum implicatum

Panicum lanuginosum var. tennesseense

Panicum languidum

Panicum tennesseense

Panicum acuminatum

Panicum brodiei

Panicum lanuginosum var. huachucae

Panicum subvillosum

Panicum lanuginosum var. implicatum

Panicum huachucae

Panicum lindheimeri var. fasciculatum

Panicum occidentale

Dichanthelium subvillosum

Panicum curtifolium

Habit

It grows in a decumbent to upright habit, and can reach 0.5 to 2 ft in height.

Leaves

Leaves are 3 1/2 in long and 1 to 8 mm wide. They are hairy on both surfaces, and the sheaths are also hairy. The leaf has a medium hairy ligule (2 to 4 mm) and taller than other Dichanthelium species.

Identifying Characteristics

This grass forms clumps and has a decumbent to upright habit reaching 2 ft in height. It is one of the hairest Dichanthelium species, and has one of the taller ligules as well. The entire plant including the panicle seedhead has hairs.

Flower Seed Head

Panicle that is up to 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. The rachis and branches can be hairy and rough with spikelets that are elliptical and 1.4 to 2.2 mm long. The spikelets can range from hairless to hairy depending on maturity.

Seed Fruit

The seed grain is 1 to 1.2 mm long

Where Found

Found in sunny to partial shade environments around wooded areas and fields/pastures. Native to all of the mainland United States and Canada (not Alaska)