Panicum virgatum L., Poaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: liu zhi ji

English: Blackwell switch grass, old switch panic grass, switchgrass

French: millet effilé, millet vivace, panic érigé, panic vierge

Spanish: cortadero

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Rhizomatous perennials 60-200 cm tall, rhizomes well-developed, scaly.  Ligule a ciliate membrane, 1.8-3.2 mm long; blades 10-60 cm long, 0.3-1.5 cm wide, usually glabrous.  Panicles 15-55 cm long; spikelets 4-5.5 mm long, ovoid, acuminate, glabrous; first glume 2-4 mm long, 2/3 - 3/4 as long as spikelet, 5-nerved, acuminate, second glume 5-7-nerved, longer than first lemma; first floret staminate, first lemma 5-7-nerved, first palea as long as first lemma; second floret 2.8-3.4 mm long, obtuse, glossy, smooth; anthers 2-3 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1574).

Description of Panicum virgatum from Kew Gardens' GrassBase

Habitat/ecology:  (no habitat/ecology info known by PIER)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Native to the North America"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1574). North America, Mesoamerica, Cuba (GRIN).

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	O‘ahu Island		Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1574) Voucher cited: Collector unknown s.n. (BISH) Single naturalized collection, present status unknown.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	extirpated	Snow, Neil/Lau, Alex (2010) (p. 52) Probably never naturalized.

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)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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. 90)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

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