Panicum virgatum

Panicum virgatum
Photo by James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Tracheophyta- Vascular plants
Class:	Lilianae - Monocotyledons
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Panicum
Species:	P. virgatum
Binomial name
Panicum virgatum L.
Natural range of Panicum virgatum from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Old Switch Panic Grass; Switchgrass

Taxonomic notes

Synonym: Panicum virgatum Linnaeus var. virgatum

Description

"Spikelets usually in panicles, round or nearly so in cross section, 2-flowered, terminal fertile, basal sterile, neutral or staminate. First glume usually present, 2nd glume and sterile lemma similar; fertile lemma and palea indurate without hyaline margins. Taxonomically our most difficult and least understood genus of grasses, more than 100 species and varieties are ascribed to the Carolinas by some authors. Note general descriptions for species groups (e.g., 1-4, 5-8, 9-13, and 26-62)." - Radford et al 1964

"Elongate, rhizomatous perennial; culms 5-15 dm tall. Blades to 5 dm long, 1.5-8 mm wide, sparsely pilose above basally; sheaths occasionally pubescent, margins occasionally densely ciliate; ligules ciliate or lacerate, 1.5 mm long. Panicle open, 12-50 cm long, 6-20 cm broad. Spikelets 2.8-4.2 mm long. Frist glume 5-9 nerved, acute to keeled-cuspidate, 1.4-3.0 mm long, 2nd glume and sterile lemma 7-9 nerved, acute to cuspidate, 2.8-4.2 mm long, sterile palea2-2.6 mm long; fertile lemma 2-2.6 mm long. Grain grayish, 1-2 mm long." - Radford et al 1964

Ecology

Seed dispersal

According to Kay Kirkman, a plant ecologist, this species disperses by gravity.

References and notes

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 145. Print.