Steinchisma hians

Similar to Panicum anceps and often occur on the same sites. The spikelets of P. anceps sit obliquely on their stalk tips, while those of P. hians sit straight or in line with the stalk axis. Also Panicum hians has no rhizomes. Sterile plants do not have gleaming white midribs on their leaf blades and satiny leaf sheath linings as do P. anceps.

Seed germination for most members of the panicum is improved by cold/moist stratification, although many may be planted fresh (Steffen 1997). Seeds average approximately 1,300,000/lb.

This information is for the genera Panicum and Dicanthelium with note that, because of abundance and distribution, it is one of the country's most important food sources for ground-feeding songbirds and gamebirds. It is also valuable as livestock forage: Animals that eat its seeds: Purple gallinule, Sora rail, Pectoral sandpiper, Ground dove, Mourning dove, Eastern white-winged dove, Bobwhite quail, Wild turkey, Woodcock, Redwing blackbird, Painted bunting, Cardinal, Cowbird, Brown creeper, Dickcissel, Blue grosbeak, Junco, Meadowlark, American and sprague pipit, Pyrrhuloxia, Chipping, vesper and white-throated sparrows, Pine-woods and tree sparrow, English, Harris, Henslow, Ipswich and sharp-tailed sparrows, Field, grasshopper, song, swamp and white-crowned sparrows, Savannah sparrow, Towhee, Pine warbler. Animals that eat the young plants and its seed: Baldpate and blue-winged teal, Florida and green-winged teal, Gadwall duck, Blue and canada goose, Snow goose, White-fronted goose. Animals that eat the plants: Antelope, White-tailed deer (Martin et al. 1951). Forage value is considered only fair, although new growth in the spring or following fire is grazed readily by cattle.

This species ranges from Arkansas and Missouri to Texas and New Mexico. The seeds of many Panicums were used as food in the Southwest, however, their importance as a food source was limited because they drop their seeds quickly after ripening (Doebley 1983). Found frequently in wet areas, especially roadside ditches in Louisiana and east Texas.

Low places, damp soils.