Panicum capillare
witchgrass, panicgrass, ticklegrass, tumble panic, tumbleweed grass, witches hair, annual witchgrass, common panic grass, common witchgrass
Family
Poaceae
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Attachment
sheathing
Leaf Margin
entire
Leaf Type
simple
Leaf Shape
linear
Growth Form
graminoid
Flower Color
inconspicuous
Flower Month
June - November
Height (meters)
0.2 - 0.9
Milky Sap
No
Armed/Unarmed
Unarmed
Origin
native
Lifespan
annual
Growing Season
Warm season
Wetland Class
FAC
Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism
2
Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism
2
Animal Use
Considered one of the least valuable of Panicum for rangeland plants.
Natural History
The large, open inflorescences of witchgrass often separate from the plant at maturity and roll with the wind. Usually found in disturbed areas throughout Louisiana and east Texas 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).
Habitat
A characteristic species of sand bars and river banks.