Basal blades 3-7 cm, evenly long pilose. Culms more than 1 mm thick, stiff, often decumbent or prostrate in the fall; internodes with soft, spreading or retrorse, papillose-based hairs, hairs longer than 4 mm. Cauline sheaths with soft, spreading or retrorse hairs, hairs longer than 4 mm, papillose-based; ligules 2-5 mm; blades 6-10 mm wide, both surfaces densely pilose, hairs longer than 4 mm, margins short-ciliate basally, scabridulous and faintly whitish elsewhere. Spikelets 2.1-2.5 mm, usually ellipsoid, with dense, spreading, papillose-based hairs. Lower glumes 1/3-1/2 as long as the spikelets, usually acute. 2n = 18.

Dichanthelium ovale subsp. villosissimum grows in dry, sandy, open pine and oak woodlands. It and subsp. pseudopubescens are the most common and widespread subspecies throughout the eastern United States. The range of subsp. villosissimum extends to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. It grades into the less pubescent subsp. pseudopubescens, and occasional specimens with smaller spikelets approach D. acuminatum subsp. acuminatum, which is usually densely grayish, velvety-pubescent.

Plants more or less densely cespitose. Culms usually less than 30 cm, stiffly ascending to spreading, densely pubescent. Midculm sheaths nearly as long as the internodes; midculm blades usually 2-6.5 cm, usually less than 8 times as long as wide. Primary panicles usually well-exserted. Spikelets mostly 1.6-1.8 mm.

Dichanthelium acuminatum subsp. sericeum grows in warm or hot ground around geysers and hot springs in the Rocky Mountains from Banff, Alberta south to Yellowstone National Park and east to Bighorn County, Wyoming.

Plants often densely cespitose, densely and softly pubescent throughout, with soft, thin, spreading, papillose-based hairs on the culms and lower sheaths. Culms usually over 30 cm. Midculm sheaths about 1/2 as long as the internodes; blades at midculm generally 6.5-12 cm long, usually more than 7 times as long as wide, suberect, softly pubescent on the abaxial surface, without papillose-based cilia on the distal 1/2. Primary panicles usually poorly exserted, peduncles shorter than 6 cm. Spikelets mostly 1.8-2 mm.

Dichanthelium acuminatum subsp. thermale grows on the mineralized crust of warm, moist soil at the Geysers, Sonoma County, California; it is listed as endangered in that state.

Plants densely cespitose. Culms seldom over50 cm, slender, suberect, ascending or spreading; nodes more or less densely pubescent; fall phase branching extensively from the lower and midculm nodes, with conspicuous, flabellate fascicles of branches and reduced blades. Cauline sheaths shorter than the internodes, lower sheaths usually pilose with papillose-based hairs, upper sheaths often short-pubescent; midculm sheaths about 1/2 as long as the internodes; blades usually 2-6 mm wide, more than 8 times longer than wide, relatively firm, erect to ascending, often yellowish-green, abaxial surfaces densely pubescent with short papillose-based hairs or short-pubescent with subappressed hairs, adaxial surfaces more or less densely pilose, hairs to 6 mm, conspicuous, erect or ascending, occasionally with shorter hairs underneath. Spikelets 1.3-1.6 mm, usually broadly obovoid.

Dichanthelium acuminatum subsp. implicatum usually grows in low, moist areas, including open woodlands, meadows, bogs, and cedar and hemlock swamps, and also in drier, sandy areas. Its range extends from south central Canada to the midwestern and northeastern United States. It intergrades occasionally with the more widespread subsp. fasciculatum.

Basal blades 1-3 cm, sparsely to densely evenly pilose. Culms less than 1 mm thick, wiry; internodes with soft, spreading or retrorse papillose-based hairs longer than 4 mm. Cauline sheaths with soft, spreading or retrorse hairs, hairs usually longer than 4 mm, papillose-based; ligules 3-4 mm; blades 2-6 mm wide, both surfaces densely pilose. Spikelets 1.8-2.1 mm, obovoid or ellipsoid, pilose with papillose-based hairs.

Dichanthelium ovale subsp. praecocius is most common in the midwest and in the tallgrass prairie states. It intergrades with subsp. villosissimum, especially in the western parts of the latters range, and to a lesser extent, with D. acuminatum subsp. fasciculatum in the northern part of its range.

Perennial herb, densely tufted 15 cm - 0.5 m tall

Inflorescence: a terminal, branched arrangement of spikelets (panicle). Primary panicles atop the culms, often open, rather dense, 3 - 12 cm long, one-fourth to three-fourths as wide as long, well-exserted. Secondary panicles (when present) atop the branches.

Fruit: a caryopsis, indehiscent, enclosed within the persistent lemma and palea.

Culm: nearly upright or ascending or spreading, 15 cm - 0.5 m long, slender, round in cross-section, hollow. Nodes sometimes swollen, more or less densely hairy. Fall phase much-branched from the lower and mid-culm nodes, forming fan-shaped clusters of branches and reduced leaf blades.

Spikelets: 1 - 1.5 mm long, broadly reverse egg-shaped with a blunt to nearly pointed apex, variously hairy.

Basal leaves: in a rosette. Blades shortly egg-shaped to lance-shaped, distinct from stem blades.

Stem leaves: four to seven, alternate, two-ranked. Sheaths shorter than internodes (about half as long at mid-culm), softly hairy with bumpy-based hairs (lower sheaths) or shortly hairy (upper sheaths). Ligules and pseudoligules 1 - 5 mm long, composed of hairs. Blades relatively firm, upright to ascending, distinctly longer and narrower than basal leaves, 2 - 6 mm wide, over eight times longer than wide, lance-shaped with a rounded or almost heart-shaped base, parallel-veined, densely hairy with short bumpy-based hairs or shortly hairy with nearly appressed hairs beneath, more or less densely soft-hairy above (hairs to 6 mm long), often with a marginal fringe of bumpy-based hairs (at least basally).

Glumes:: Lower glumes usually one-fourth to one-half as long as spikelets, blunt to pointed at the apex. Upper glumes rounded to pointed at the apex.

Lemmas:: Lower lemmas similar to upper glumes. Upper lemmas longitudinally lined, shiny, with rolled-up margins above.

Paleas:: Lower paleas shorter than lower lemmas, thin. Upper paleas longitudinally lined.

Florets:: Lower florets sterile. Upper florets bisexual, stalkless, 1 - 1.5 mm long, 0.5 - 1 mm wide, ellipsoid with a blunt to pointed apex, plump. Anthers three. Stigmas red.

Similar species: No information at this time.

Flowering: late May to mid-September

Habitat and ecology: Common in a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands, moist prairies, and along railroads and lakes.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Etymology: Dichanthelium comes from the Greek words di, meaning twice, and anth, meaning flowering, referring to plants that may have two flowering periods. Acuminatum means "tapering to a long point." Implicatum means tangled.

Author: The Morton Arboretum

Perennial herb, tufted 15 cm - 0.6 m tall

Inflorescence: a terminal, branched arrangement of spikelets (panicle). Primary panicles atop the culms, 3 - 10 cm long, almost as wide when fully open. Secondary panicles (when present) atop the branches.

Fruit: a caryopsis, indehiscent, enclosed within the persistent lemma and palea.

Culm: stiff, mostly spreading or ascending, 15 cm - 0.6 m long, over 1 mm thick, round in cross-section, hollow, with spreading or down-pointing hairs that are bumpy-based and longer than 4 mm long. Nodes sparsely to densely bearded. Fall phase with decumbent culms, forming dense clusters of branches that have upright, slightly reduced leaf blades and highly reduced secondary panicles.

Spikelets: 2 - 2.5 mm long, ellipsoid with a blunt to nearly pointed apex, with spreading and dense, bumpy-based hairs.

Basal leaves: in a rosette. Blades 3 - 7 cm long, lance-shaped, distinct from the stem blades, softly hairy with long hairs, often marginally fringed with hairs.

Stem leaves: four to seven, alternate, two-ranked. Sheaths shorter than internodes, with spreading or down-pointing hairs that are bumpy-based and longer than 4 mm long. Ligules 2 - 5 mm long, composed of hairs. Blades relatively firm, spreading or ascending, distinctly longer and narrower than basal leaves, 4 - 10 cm long, 6 - 10 mm wide, lance-shaped with a rounded or slightly narrowed base, parallel-veined, densely soft-hairy (hairs over 4 mm long), marginally whitish and minutely rough, fringed with short hairs basally.

Glumes:: Lower glumes one-third to one-half as long as spikelets, triangular with a pointed apex, veined (not strongly). Upper glumes a bit shorter than lower lemmas and upper florets when mature, veined (not strongly).

Lemmas:: Lower lemmas similar to upper glumes. Upper lemmas longitudinally lined, shiny, with rolled-up margins above.

Paleas:: Lower paleas shorter than lower lemmas, thin. Upper paleas longitudinally lined.

Florets:: Lower florets sterile. Upper florets bisexual, stalkless, 1.5 - 2.5 mm long, a bit less than half as wide as long, ellipsoid with a nearly pointed apex, plump. Anthers three. Stigmas red.

Similar species: No information at this time.

Flowering: late May to late June

Habitat and ecology: Found in the sandy fields and woods in the eastern sector of the Chicago Region. In the western sector it can be found in dry prairies.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Etymology: Dichanthelium comes from the Greek words di, meaning twice, and anth, meaning flowering, referring to plants that may have two flowering periods. Ovale means oval. Villosissimum means "very long-hairy."

Author: The Morton Arboretum

Perennial herb, tufted 15 cm - 0.6 m tall

Inflorescence: a terminal, branched arrangement of spikelets (panicle). Primary panicles atop the culms, 3 - 10 cm long, almost as wide when fully open. Secondary panicles (when present) atop the branches.

Fruit: a caryopsis, indehiscent, enclosed within the persistent lemma and palea.

Culm: mostly spreading or ascending, 15 cm - 0.6 m long, under 1 mm thick, round in cross-section, hollow, with soft, bumpy-based hairs along the internodes that are over 4 mm long. Nodes sparsely to densely bearded. Fall phase with decumbent to prostrate culms, forming dense clusters of branches that have upright, slightly reduced leaf blades and highly reduced secondary panicles.

Spikelets: about 2 mm long, ellipsoid or reverse egg-shaped with a blunt to nearly pointed apex, softly hairy with bumpy-based hairs.

Basal leaves: in a rosette. Blades 1 - 3 cm long, lance-shaped, distinct from the stem blades, sparsely to densely soft-hairy, often fringed with hairs.

Stem leaves: four to seven, alternate, two-ranked. Sheaths shorter than internodes, with soft, bumpy-based hairs that are over 4 mm long. Ligules 3 - 4 mm long, composed of hairs. Blades relatively firm, spreading or ascending, distinctly longer and narrower than basal leaves, 4 - 10 cm long, 2 - 6 mm wide, lance-shaped with a rounded or slightly narrowed base, parallel-veined, densely hairy, marginally whitish and minutely rough, fringed with hairs basally.

Glumes:: Lower glumes one-third to one-half as long as spikelets, triangular with a more or less pointed apex, veined (not strongly). Upper glumes a bit shorter than lower lemmas and upper florets when mature, veined (not strongly).

Lemmas:: Lower lemmas similar to upper glumes. Upper lemmas longitudinally lined, shiny, with rolled-up margins above.

Paleas:: Lower paleas shorter than lower lemmas, thin. Upper paleas longitudinally lined.

Florets:: Lower florets sterile. Upper florets bisexual, stalkless, 1.5 - 2.5 mm long, a bit less than half as wide as long, ellipsoid with a nearly pointed apex, plump. Anthers three. Stigmas red.

Similar species: No information at this time.

Habitat and ecology: Rare in the Chicago Region. Found in sandy areas.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Etymology: Dichanthelium comes from the Greek words di, meaning twice, and anth, meaning flowering, referring to plants that may have two flowering periods. Ovale means oval. Praecocius means "early maturing."

Author: The Morton Arboretum

Local probably throughout the lake area. It is found in open places in dry, sandy or gravelly soil, usually on black and white oak ridges and in the dunes.

This species is rare in the sands of the northern counties. I have, also, a specimen which was found in Harrison County, about 3 miles east of Elizabeth on a rocky wooded slope along the road leading from Elizabeth to Stuart's Landing on the Ohio River. This rocky slope is rich in rare Indiana plants such as Eragrostis capillaris.

[Deam splits Dichanthelium acuminatum subsp. implicatum into three taxa in the genus Panicum.] [Panicum albemarlense:] I have only one specimen of this grass from Indiana and it is in the autumnal phase. I am not able to make a satisfactory study of this species from the few specimens at hand. Some authors refer it to a form of Panicum meridionale, to which it may belong. It is found in sandy soils. [Panicum implicatum:] Local to infrequent but common in its habitat. It is generally found in moist, sandy soil on the marly borders of lakes, in interdunal flats, and rarely in dry, sandy soil. I think this grass is restricted to the lake area and that all reports of it from south of this area should be referred to some other species, most probably to Panicurn huachucae. This Panicum is difficult to separate from Panicum huachucae, but usually the length of the spikelet and the color of the whole plant are sufficient to distinguish them. [Panicum meridionale:] Infrequent in the lake area, probably rather local. It is found in moist soil on the borders of marshes, in interdunal flats, and on the bases of wooded slopes where there are open spaces not sodded over with grasses and sedges. This plant usually can be distinguished easily from the preceding and the following species by the puberulence in the channels between the nerves of the sheaths and sometimes of the culms, and the puberulent panicle.

Culms ±clustered, erect or ascending, 1-3 dm at first anthesis, soon elongating to as much as 6 dm, evidently papillose-pilose with spreading or retrorse hairs 1-5 mm, as also the sheaths; ligule a band of hairs 3-5 mm; blades 3-10 cm נ3-13 mm, ±papillose-pilose on both sides; primary panicle on a papillose-hairy to glabrate peduncle, 2-6 cm, ovoid, with widely divergent branches, its axis pilose to glabrate; spikelets finely hairy, ellipsoid or oblong-obovoid, 1.5-2.5 mm; first glume triangular- ovate, acute, 0.7-1.4 mm, a third to three-fifths as long as the spikelet; fr 1.5-2 mm, half or two-thirds as wide; autumnal phase developing early, the lateral branches and often the secondary panicles visible before the primary panicle has completed anthesis; branches several from the middle and lower nodes, the stems widely spreading or prostrate and often geniculate at the lower nodes, the scarcely reduced lvs equaling or surpassing the small panicles; 2n=18. Dry, especially sandy soil, open woods, and prairies; Mass. to Minn. and Kans., s. to Fla. and Tex. (P. benneri; P. praecocius; P. pseudopubescens; P. scoparioides, a less hairy or subglabrate phase, perhaps of hybrid origin; P. subvillosum; Dichanthelium acuminatum var. villosum)

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Culms clustered, stiff, erect or ascending, 1-6 dm, usually at least some of the sheaths and internodes with distinctly bistratal pubescence consisting of intermingled short, soft, crisp hairs and much longer (1-2+ mm) coarser hairs; sheaths conspicuously striate; ligule a dense band of short (ca 1 mm or less) hairs in front of a thin line of longer (even to 5 mm) hairs; blades ascending, 4-9 cm נ3-7 mm, involute at the tip, glabrous or with a few scattered long hairs above, glabrous to more often hairy (with unequal hairs) beneath; primary panicle ovoid, 3-8 cm; spikelets finely hairy, ellipsoid, 1.7-2.6 mm; autumnal phase becoming widely spreading to prostrate, branched chiefly from the middle nodes, the blades scarcely reduced, the panicles much reduced and surpassed by the lvs; 2n=18. Sandy soil. Var. commonsianum, of the coastal plain from Mass. to Fla., is rather thinly hairy. (P. addisonii; P. mundum) The more copiously hairy var. euchlamydeum (Shinners) Pohl is more inland, occurring from nw. Pa. to n. Ill., Wis., and e. Minn. P. commonsianum might perhaps properly be subordinated to P. ovale Elliott, of the southern coastal plain, but the proper nomenclatural innovations have not been made.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission.