Panicum hallii

FNA 2003, Gould 1980, Kearney and Peebles 1969

Common Name: Hall's panicgrass Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Graminoid General: Tufted perennial grass, 20-70 cm tall; stems erect, 2-10 mm thick, in small dense clumps, simple or sparingly branched at the base; nodes glabrous or pubescent. Vegetative: Sheath open, with pustulate hairs; blades flat, 2-5 mm wide, 4-15 cm long, glabrous on upper surface, sparsely ciliate near base, old dry blades curled like wood shavings; ligule ciliate with membranous base, 0.5-1.5 mm long. Inflorescence: Panicle 6-20 cm long with few, stiff, erect-spreading branches and mostly appressed branchlets and pedicels; spikelets appressed and closely placed in small clusters, often imbricate and overlapping, 3-4 mm long, 2-flowered, the first floret sterile and the second floret fertile; first glume one-third to two-thirds as long as spikelet; second glume and sterile lemma ovate-lanceolate, somewhat pointed, glabrous; fertile lemma indurate, smooth and shiny, about 2.5 mm long. Ecology: Found on sandy plains and rocky slopes, from 2,500-7,500 ft (762-2286 m); flowers March-October. Distribution: AZ, s UT, s CO, NM, TX, s OK, w LA; south to s MEX. Notes: The genus Panicum is defined as having unawned spikelets with 2 florets, the first floret sterile or staminate, and the second floret bisexual with a rigid lemma that clasps the palea. P. hallii is a perennial bunchgrass without stolons or rhizomes. It has flat blades that, when mature and brown, roll up like wood shavings or ribbons. The open inflorescences have only a few sparsely-flowered branches, which ascend at a 45 degree angle or are appressed to the main axis. The single-seeded, hard, oblong, pointed spikelets are smooth and shiny, and fall off quickly after maturing, leaving naked panicle branches. Ethnobotany: Seeds were ground and used for food, the plant was used as fodder, and the stalks were tied together to make small brooms. Etymology: Panicum is a classical Latin name for millet, while hallii is named for Harvey Monroe Hall (1874-1932). Synonyms: None Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2014, AHazelton 2015