Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: yang ye shu

English: bluegrass, fall panic grass, fall panicum, smooth witchgrass, western witchgrass

French: panic d'automne

Spanish: rapiente

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Geniculate or erect annuals 10-120 cm tall, usually glabrous; culms usually branched.  Ligule a ciliate membrane, 1-2 mm long; blades 10-50 cm long, 0.3-2 cm wide, flat, glabrous or sparsely pubescent.  Panicles 4-50 cm long, terminal and axillary; spikelets 2-.32 mm long, oblong-ovoid, acute, glabrous; first glume 0.6-1 mm long, 1/5 - 1/4 as long as spikelet, obtuse to truncate, 3-nerved, broadly clasping, second glume 7-nerved; first floret sterile or staminate, first lemma 7-nerved, first palea absent or as long as first lemma; second floret 1.7-2.1 mm long, acute, glossy, smooth; anthers 1.2-1.4 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1568).

Description of Panicum dichotomiflorum from GrassBase

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in mesic, disturbed areas, 120-1,220 m"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1568).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Native to the Americas"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1568).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1568)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1568) Voucher cited: Lyman s.n. (BISH)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 80)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 80)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 559) "Weed of crops (especially maize, onions), and disturbed soil in orchards, gardens, roadsides, waste places and pasture".
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 80)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island		Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. plate)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Panicum dichotomiflorum, please let us know.