Panicum
| Panicum | |
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| Panicum virgatum | |
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| Genus: | Panicum |
| Diversity | |
| About 450 species | |
Panicum is a large genus of about 450 species of grasses native throughout the tropical regions of the world, with a few species extending into the northern temperate zone. They are often large, annual or perennial grasses, growing to 1–3 m tall.
The flowers are produced in a well-developed panicle often up to 60 cm in length with numerous seeds, which are 1–6 mm long and 1–2 mm broad. The fruits are developed from a two-flowered spikelet. Only the upper floret of each spikelet is fertile; the lower floret is sterile or staminate. Both glumes are present and well developed.
Australia has 29 native and 9 introduced species of Panicum.[1]
Well-known Panicum species include proso millet and switchgrass.
Selected species
- Panicum abscissum Swallen
- Panicum acostia R.D.Webster
- Panicum amarum Elliott – bitter panicum
- Panicum anceps Michx. – beaked panicum
- Panicum antidotale Retz. – blue panicum
- Panicum capillare L. – witchgrass, tumbleweed[2]
- Panicum colonum L. – jungle rice (synonym of Echinochloa colona)
- Panicum coloratum L. – kleingrass, coolah grass, Bambatsi panic
- Panicum crus-galli L. – barnyard grass (synonym of Echinochloa crus-galli)
- Panicum decompositum R.Br. – native millet
- Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. – fall panicgrass
- Panicum effusum R.Br. – hairy panic
- Panicum fauriei Hitchc. – Faurie's panicgrass
- Panicum havardii Vasey – Havard's panicgrass
- Panicum helopus Trin. – annual signal grass (synonym of Urochloa panicoides)
- Panicum hirticaule J.Presl – Mexican panicgrass
- Panicum maximum Jacq. – Guinea grass, buffalo grass
- Panicum miliaceum L. – proso millet, common millet
- Panicum niihauense H.St.John – lau 'ehu
- Panicum obtusum Kunth – vine mesquite grass
- Panicum pygmaeum R.Br. – Australian native dwarf panicum, rainforest panicum
- Panicum repens L. – torpedo grass
- Panicum rigidum Balf.f.
- Panicum socotranum Cope
- Panicum sumatrense Roth – little millet
- Panicum turgidum Forssk. – afezu
- Panicum urvilleanum Kunth – desert panicgrass
- Panicum virgatum L. – switchgrass
References
- ^ Grasses of the Tweed Valley of NSW: An introductory field guide to locally common grasses: native and introduced, Compiled by Penny Watsford, Nullum Publications, 2004 ISBN 0-9756823-0-X)
- ^ *Britton, Nathaniel; Addison Brown (1896). An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions From Newfoundland to the Parallel of the Southern Boundary of Virginia, and from the Atlantic Ocean Westward to the 102d Meridian. Volume I, Ophioglossaceae to Aizoaceae. Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 612. page 123