Difference between revisions of "Dichanthelium scoparium"
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==Ecology== | ==Ecology== | ||
===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.--> | ===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.--> | ||
| − | Generally, ''D. scoparium'' can be found in moist sandy soils of ditches or woodland openings.<ref name= "Weakley"/> The bunchgrass prefers coarse soils and precipitation of 30 | + | Generally, ''D. scoparium'' can be found in moist sandy soils of ditches or woodland openings.<ref name= "Weakley"/> The bunchgrass prefers coarse to medium textured soils and precipitation of 30 to 55 inches. It is commonly found in sandy woods, low areas, and disturbed regions. This species commonly grows in soils with a range in pH from 4.5 to 7.5, and cannot tolerate any level of salinity.<ref name= "fact"/> Habitats that specimens were collected from include edges of mesic woodlands, moist loamy sands, creek bottoms, boggy pineland, deciduous woods, fresh water marsh, pine flatwoods, near brackish water, along creeks, and woods near ponds. <ref name = "FSU herbarium"> URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2018. Collectors: States and counties: Florida (Wakulla, Calhoun, Bay, Gulf, Holmes, Liberty, Washinton, Leon, Jackson, Houston, Franklin, Nassau, Duval, Escambia, St. Johns, Madison), Arkansas (Saline, Pope), Georgia (Thomas, Oglethrope, Camden, Sumter), Louisiana (Oachita, Washington, St. Landry, Tangipahoa, Union), Virginia (Dinwiddie, Virginia Beach, Prine Edward), Mississippi (Jones, Smith, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Hancock), Alabama (Montgomery), Texas (Freestone), South Carolina (Clarendon, Georgetown, McCormick), North Carolina (Nash), Oklahoma (Pushmataha), </ref> |
===Phenology=== | ===Phenology=== | ||
Revision as of 08:21, 2 May 2019
Common Names: Velvet Panicum [1]; Velvet panic grass [2]; Velvet witchgrass
| Dichanthelium scoparium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by the Atlas of Florida Plants Database | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Liliopsida - Moncots |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Dichanthelium |
| Species: | D. scoparium |
| Binomial name | |
| Dichanthelium scoparium (Lamarck) Gould | |
| |
| Natural range of Dichanthelium scoparium from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Contents
Taxonomic Notes
Synonyms: Panicum scoparium Lamarck
Description
D. scoparium is a perennial gaminoid of the Poaceae family that is native to North America. [1] It can be identified by its dense and velvety pubescence that can be found on the internodes, sheaths, and blades of this plant, as well as the viscid band that is below the nodes.[3] It has a unique growth pattern where it produces a basal rosette in the fall and winter, and produces stems that develop during the spring. It has a short lifespan compared to other perennials. Stems can reach heights of up to 4 1/2 feet tall, and leaves 1/4 to 1 inch wide.[4]
Distribution
D. scoparium is commonly found across the southeastern United States, reaching as far west as Texas, and along the east coast up into New England.[1] It is also native to Mexico as well as the West Indies.[3]
Ecology
Habitat
Generally, D. scoparium can be found in moist sandy soils of ditches or woodland openings.[3] The bunchgrass prefers coarse to medium textured soils and precipitation of 30 to 55 inches. It is commonly found in sandy woods, low areas, and disturbed regions. This species commonly grows in soils with a range in pH from 4.5 to 7.5, and cannot tolerate any level of salinity.[4] Habitats that specimens were collected from include edges of mesic woodlands, moist loamy sands, creek bottoms, boggy pineland, deciduous woods, fresh water marsh, pine flatwoods, near brackish water, along creeks, and woods near ponds. [5]
Phenology
This species generally flowers from May until October.[3] D. scoparium has been observed to flower between May and July.[6] If other Dichanthelium species are growing in the same area, D. scoparium usually will flower later than the others present.[4]
Use by animals
It consists of approximately 2-5% of the diet for large mammals as well as about 10-25% of the diet for various terrestrial birds.[7] It is a source of food for song birds, small mammals, and game birds as well as the basal rosette being a food source for white tailed deer and wild turkey.[4]
Conservation and Management
This species is listed as endangered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves.[1]
Cultivation and restoration
D. scoparium has been used as a revegetation source when working to restore a disturbed area.[1]
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 USDA Plant Database
- ↑ Cipollini, M. L., et al. (2012). "Herbaceous plants and grasses in a mountain longleaf pine forest undergoing restoration: a survey and comparative study." Southeastern Naturalist 11: 637-668.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Brakie, M. 2007. Plant fact sheet for velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium (Lam.) Gould. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, East Texas Plant Materials Center, Nacogdoches, TX 75964.
- ↑ URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2018. Collectors: States and counties: Florida (Wakulla, Calhoun, Bay, Gulf, Holmes, Liberty, Washinton, Leon, Jackson, Houston, Franklin, Nassau, Duval, Escambia, St. Johns, Madison), Arkansas (Saline, Pope), Georgia (Thomas, Oglethrope, Camden, Sumter), Louisiana (Oachita, Washington, St. Landry, Tangipahoa, Union), Virginia (Dinwiddie, Virginia Beach, Prine Edward), Mississippi (Jones, Smith, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Hancock), Alabama (Montgomery), Texas (Freestone), South Carolina (Clarendon, Georgetown, McCormick), North Carolina (Nash), Oklahoma (Pushmataha),
- ↑ Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 21 MAY 2018
- ↑ Miller, J.H., and K.V. Miller. 1999. Forest plants of the southeast and their wildlife uses. Southern Weed Science Society.
