Fall panicum

June 10, 2015

Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. Poaceae (Grass family)

Life cycle

Erect summer annual

Leaves

Leaves are hairless at maturity, up to 20 inches long with a prominent, white midvein. Leaf sheaths are also hairless at maturity, and there are no hairs on the sheath margin. Seedlings may have hairs on the lower leaf surface and sheath, becoming less hairy with age.

fall panicum midvein
Prominent, white midvein of fall panicum.

Ligule

Hairy.

Stems

Erect, bending in a zigzag manner at the nodes, up to 6 feet tall.

fall panicum collar region
Fall panicum collar region.

Flowers and fruit

The seedhead is a large, open and spreading panicle that may be purple-tinted at maturity and yields small, straw-colored, oval seeds.

Reproduction

Seeds.

fall panicum seedhead
Fall panicum seedhead.

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