Panicum

Panicum
Panicum virgatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Panicum
L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Monachne P.Beauv.
  • Eatonia Raf.
  • Talasium Spreng.
  • Coleataenia Griseb.
  • Phanopyrum (Raf.) Nash
  • Chasea Nieuwl.
  • Polyneura Peter 1930, illegitimate homonym not Kylin 1924
  • Psilochloa Launert
  • Dichanthelium (Hitchc. & Chase) Gould
  • Megathyrsus (Pilg.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L.Jacobs
  • Zuloagaea Bess
  • Apochloa Zuloaga & Morrone
  • Renvoizea Zuloaga & Morrone
  • Ocellochloa Zuloaga & Morrone
  • Sorengia Zuloaga & Morrone
  • Stephostachys Zuloaga & Morrone
  • Trichanthecium Zuloaga & Morrone
Panicum maximum
Panicum phragmitoides
Panicum torridum
Panicum xerophyllum

Panicum is a large genus of about 450 species of grasses native throughout the tropical regions of the world, with a few species extending into the northern temperate zone. They are often large, annual or perennial grasses, growing to 1–3 m tall.[2][3]

The flowers are produced in a well-developed panicle often up to 60 cm in length with numerous seeds, which are 1–6 mm long and 1–2 mm broad. The fruits are developed from a two-flowered spikelet. Only the upper floret of each spikelet is fertile; the lower floret is sterile or staminate. Both glumes are present and well developed.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Australia has 29 native and 9 introduced species of Panicum.[10][11][12]

Well-known Panicum species include proso millet and switchgrass.

Selected species

References

  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Freckmann, R. W. & M. G. Lelong. 2002. Nomenclatural changes and innovations in Panicum and Dichanthelium (Poaceae: Paniceae). Sida 20(1): 161–174
  3. Valdes, B. & H. Scholz. 2006. The Euro+Med treatment of Gramineae - a generic synopsis and some new names. Willdenowia 36(2): 657–669
  4. Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 504 黍属 shu shu Panicum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 55. 1753.
  5. Flora of Pakistan
  6. Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Panicum includes photos and distribution maps of several species
  7. Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps
  8. Valdés-Reyna, J., F. O. Zuloaga, O. Morrone & L. Aragón Melchor. 2009. El género Panicum (Poaceae: Panicoideae) en el noreste de México. Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México 84: 59–82.
  9. Morrone, O., A. M. Antón & F. O. Zuloaga. 1995. Axonopus. Flora Fanerogámica Argentina. 19(1): 11–16
  10. Grasses of the Tweed Valley of NSW: An introductory field guide to locally common grasses: native and introduced, Compiled by Penny Watsford, Nullum Publications, 2004 ISBN 0-9756823-0-X)
  11. Ausgrass2, Grasses of Australia
  12. Atlas of Living Australia

External links