Dichanthelium

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox

Dichanthelium is genus of flowering plants of the grass family, Poaceae. They are known commonly as rosette grasses and panicgrasses.<ref name=usda>Dichanthelium. USDA PLANTS.</ref>

Taxonomy

Formerly a subgenus of the genus Panicum, Dichanthelium was elevated to genus status in 1974.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Its species are still treated as members of Panicum by some authorities, because the two genera are very similar in form.<ref name=freck/> Molecular data support the recognition of Dichanthelium as a separate genus.<ref name=freck>Freckmann, R. W. and M. G. Lelong. Dichanthelium. The Grass Manual. Flora of North America. Template:Webarchive</ref>

The name Dichanthelium originates from the Greek for "twice-flowering", in reference to the vernal and autumnal growth phases.<ref name=fotcr2017>Template:Cite book</ref>

Description

These are perennial grasses, sometimes with rhizomes. The grasses may overwinter as rosettes of short, wide leaves and then produce longer, wider leaves on the stem during spring. They produce hollow stems a few centimeters tall to well over one meter. They are upright to erect when new, then sometimes sprawling, spreading, and bending as the season progresses. The upper stems may have a few main branches that divide into smaller branches bearing panicles. There are primary panicles, which may be chasmogamous, and secondary panicles, which are often cleistogamous. The spikelets are roughly 1 to 5 millimeters long and lack awns.<ref name=freck/>

In the Chicago area, Dichanthelium is considered the most emblematic genus of the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plain disjunct habitat found in that region.<ref name=fotcr2017/><ref name=rez1994>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Species

There are about 72 species in the genus.<ref name=freck/> Species include:<ref name=usda/><ref name=freck/><ref>Dichanthelium. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).</ref><ref>GRIN Species Records of Dichanthelium. Template:Webarchive Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).</ref>

File:Dichanthelium leibergii syn Panicum leibergii.jpg
Dichanthelium leibergii
File:Dichanthelium laxiflorum.jpg
Dichanthelium laxiflorum
File:Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon inflorescence.jpg
Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
File:Dichanthelium acuminatum subsp. sericeum 002 — Matt Lavin.jpg
Dichanthelium acuminatum ssp. sericeum

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Taxonbar

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Dichanthelium&oldid=628768"