NameThatPlant.net: Dichanthelium scoparium

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

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

Learn more about Dichanthelium from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

The dense, velvety pubescence of the internodes, sheaths, and blades of this taxon, combined with the viscid band below the nodes, are diagnostic, per Weakley's Flora (2022)

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Dichanthelium scoparium FAMILY Poaceae

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

Panicum scoparium FAMILY Poaceae

COMMON NAME:
Velvet Witchgrass

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

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)

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!

If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".

Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".