Panicum virgatum

Botanical Description

Panicum virgatum is a perennial grass growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. The rhizomes are often loosely interwoven, sometimes short or forming a knotty crown. The culms range from 40 - 300cm tall, are 3 - 5 mm thick, sometimes solitary, at others forming dense erect or decumbent clumps[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ] The plant is sometimes grown in soil stabilization schemes and is a potential source of biomass. There are several named forms, developed for their ornamental value[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. Panicum virgatum has a high risk of becoming a weed in any new area into which it is introduced[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. ].