Dichanthelium boscii

Dichanthelium boscii
Photo taken by Kevin Robertson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae ⁄ Gramineae
Genus:	Dichanthelium
Species:	D. boscii
Binomial name
Dichanthelium boscii (Poir.) Gould & C.A. Clark
Natural range of Dichanthelium boscii from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Bosc's panicgrass; Bosc's witchgrass

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Panicum boscii Poir.; P. boscii var. boscii Poir.; P. boscii var. molle (Vasey) A.S. Hitchcock & Chase

Description

Dichanthelium boscii is a perennial graminoid.

Generally, for the Dichanthelium genus, they have "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 an 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)."

Specifically, for the D. boscii species, they are "Perennial with distinct basal rosettes; branching, when present, from nodes above basal rosette. Leaves basal and cauline, vernal and autumnal. Culms 2-6.5 dm tall, nodes retrorsely bearded, internodes glabrous, puberulent, or papillose-pilose. Blades to 13 cm long, 12-35 mm wide, glabrous puberulent, or pilose on both surfaces, margins ciliate; ligules ciliate, 1-1.3 mm long. Panicle 3-11 cm long, 1-8 cm broad; rachis and spreading-ascending branches villous. Spikelets ellipsoid, 3.7-4.2 mm long; pedicels villous to glabrous. First glume glabrous or pubescent, acute, 1.5-2.2 mm long, 2nd glume and sterile lemma puberulent or short villous, acute, 3.7-4.2 mm long; fertile lemma and palea 3.7-4.2 mm long. Grain 2 mm long, yellowish or purplish, broadly ellipsoid or subglobose."

Ecology

Habitat

D. boscii occurs in a range of light conditions, from shady to open sun and in a variety of soil types, such as from moist loam, to wet clayey soil, dry rocky soil, moist sandy humus, loose sand, and dry soil. It can be found in natural communities such as mixed broadleaf woodlands, oak-hickory uplands, mixed woodland ravines, and river bluffs. In addition, it appears in disturbed habitats such as power line corridors.

Associated species include Carex cherokeensis, Schoenus nigricans, Acer saccharum ssp. floridanum.

Phenology

D. boscii has been observed flowering from March to June and in August and has been observed fruiting in May, August, and October.

Fire ecology

D. boscii has been found in recently burned areas.

Use by animals

Insects who feed on D. boscii: Chalepus bicolor, stem-inhabiting larvae of the gall fly Calamomyia panici, the caterpillars of Poanes hobomok (Hobomok Skipper) and other skippers, leaf-mining larvae of the mothsElachista radiantella and Elachista solitaria, the stilt bug Jalysus spinosus, the stink bug Mormidea lugens, the plant bugs Collaria meilleuri and Collaria oculata,Colopha ulmicola (Elm Cockscomb Aphid) and other aphids, the leafhoppers Polyamia herbida and Polyamia rossi, and Arphia sulphurea (Sulphur-winged Grasshopper). Seeds are eaten by bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and various sparrows. White-tailed deer and cottontail rabbits browse on the foliage.