OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Commelinids: Poales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Dichanthelium scoparium   FAMILY Poaceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Dichanthelium scoparium   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25 (2003)

Dichanthelium scoparium

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-81-057:

Panicum scoparium   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)

Panicum scoparium

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Panicum scoparium

 

COMMON NAME:
Velvet Witchgrass


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide    pnd_disc3_003_lvd

        

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913    pnd_pasc9_001_lvd

        

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm210209_8705

February    Greenville County    SC

Blackwell Heritage Preserve

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200516_4891

May    Pickens County    SC

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200516_4893

May    Pickens County    SC

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200516_4896

May    Pickens County    SC

Leaf blades rather thick, 12-20cm long, 10-18mm wide, per Manual of the Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950).

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200525_5256

May    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200525_5258

May    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

A viscid band below the retrorsely bearded nodes; internodes, sheaths, blades velvety-pubescent, per Weakley's Flora (2022).

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200525_5260

May    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm220503_7441

May    Greenville County    SC

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm220503_7442

May    Greenville County    SC

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm060604_059

June    Pickens County    SC

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm120623_210

June    Greenville County    SC

Ashmore Heritage Preserve

Spikelets 2.4-2.6mm long, obovate, turgid, papillose-pubescent, per Manual of the Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950).

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm120705_693b

July    Greenville County    SC

Ashmore Heritage Preserve

Panicle's rachis villous, the branches spreading-ascending, villous, spotted, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200703_6330

July    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

Culms 5-14dm [55"] tall, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200703_6331

July    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

Panicle 6-16cm long, 5-10cm broad, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200703_6374

July    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200703_6378

July    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

Ligules densely ciliate, 1.5-3mm long, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200703_6381

July    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm200703_6383

July    Greenville County    SC

Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm220809_9552

August    Greenville County    SC

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

image of Dichanthelium scoparium, Velvet Witchgrass

JK Marlow    jkm220809_9553

August    Greenville County    SC

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

Stems stout, hairy, with a hairless band below the nodes, per Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses (Miller & Miller, 2005).

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Dichanthelium scoparium   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Dichanthelium scoparium   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25
Dichanthelium scoparium

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-81-057:
Panicum scoparium   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Panicum scoparium

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Panicum scoparium

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

2161

Grass, Sedge, or Rush
Perennial

Habitat: Moist sandy soil of woodland openings and ditches, per Weakley's Flora

Native to the Carolinas & Georgia

Common (uncommon in Mountains, uncommon in GA Coastal Plain)

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate, 2-ranked, and often a basal rosette of overwintering leaves

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall

Early-season ("spring") panicles terminal; later "autumnal" panicles are lateral

FRUIT:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Grain yellowish/Purplish
Grain

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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