Panicum

Panicum
Panicum virgatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Genus:	Panicum L.
Synonyms[1]
Monachne P.Beauv. Eatonia Raf. Talasium Spreng. Coleataenia Griseb. Phanopyrum (Raf.) Nash Chasea Nieuwl. Polyneura Peter 1930, illegitimate homonym not Kylin 1924 Psilochloa Launert Dichanthelium (Hitchc. & Chase) Gould Megathyrsus (Pilg.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L.Jacobs Zuloagaea Bess Apochloa Zuloaga & Morrone Renvoizea Zuloaga & Morrone Ocellochloa Zuloaga & Morrone Sorengia Zuloaga & Morrone Stephostachys Zuloaga & Morrone Trichanthecium Zuloaga & Morrone

Panicum (panicgrass)^[2] 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.^[3][4]

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.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Australia has 29 native and 9 introduced species of Panicum.^[11][12][13]

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^[14]
• 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 hemitomon Schult. – maidencane
• 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

Gallery

• 

  Panicum antidotale

• 

  Panicum capillare

• 

  Panicum lycopodioides

• 

  Panicum maximum

• 

  Proso millet

• 

  Panicum phragmitoides

• 

  Panicum repens

• 

  Panicum torridum

• 

  Panicum xerophyllum

• 

  Panicum trichoides, isotype herbarium sheet

References

1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. "Panicum". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
3. Freckmann, R. W. & M. G. Lelong. 2002. Nomenclatural changes and innovations in Panicum and Dichanthelium (Poaceae: Paniceae). Sida 20(1): 161–174
4. Valdes, B. & H. Scholz. 2006. The Euro+Med treatment of Gramineae - a generic synopsis and some new names. Willdenowia 36(2): 657–669
5. Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 504 黍属 shu shu Panicum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 55. 1753.
6. Flora of Pakistan
7. Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Panicum includes photos and distribution maps of several species
8. Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps
9. Valdés-Reyna, J., F. O. Zuloaga, O. Morrone & L. Aragón Melchor. 2009. El género Panicum (Poaceae: Panicoideae) en el noreste de México. Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México 84: 59–82.
10. Morrone, O., A. M. Antón & F. O. Zuloaga. 1995. Axonopus. Flora Fanerogámica Argentina. 19(1): 11–16
11. 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)
12. Ausgrass2, Grasses of Australia
13. Atlas of Living Australia
14. • 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

External links

• Interactive Key to Panicum of North America