Panicum virgatum L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Poaceae

• Scientific Name

  Panicum virgatum L.

• Description

  Species Description - Stout, erect, to 2 m, from hard, scaly rhizomes, often forming large tufts; ligule a dense zone of silky hairs; blades 2–5 dm, to 15 mm wide; glabrous or pilose near the base; infl open, freely branched, pyramidal, 2–4 dm; spikelets ovoid, soon widened distally by spreading of the glumes and sterile lemma, 2.2–5.6 mm; first glume half to nearly as long; second glume and sterile lemma subequal, conspicuously veined, acute to long-acuminate; 2n=18–108. Open woods, prairies, dunes, shores, and brackish marshes; N.S. and Que. to Man. and Mont., s. to Ariz., Mex.

• Common Names

  switchgrass