Fall panicgrass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fall panicgrass |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Panicum
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| Species: |
dichotomiflorum
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Panicum dichotomiflorum, often called fall panicgrass or fall panicum, is a type of "true grass." It belongs to the Poaceae family, which includes many important grasses like wheat and corn.
This grass is originally from the eastern United States and parts of Canada. You can also find it in the western U.S., including California. Sometimes, it grows in new places where it wasn't originally found. This is called being an introduced species. Fall panicgrass can grow in many different places, even in areas that have been disturbed, like roadsides or fields. It also grows in natural areas like chaparral habitats.
What is Fall Panicgrass?
Fall panicgrass is an annual plant, which means it completes its whole life cycle in one year. It can grow either lying flat on the ground or standing straight up. It can reach a height of about 1 meter (3 feet).
How to Spot It
You can tell fall panicgrass apart from a similar grass called witchgrass because its leaves are smooth and do not have hairs. The plant's flowers grow in a large, open cluster called a panicle. This cluster can be up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long and spread out to 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) wide.
