vine mesquite
Common Name: Vine Mesquite
Species Name: Panicum obtusum
Plant Type: Grasses & Grass-like
Family Name: Poaceae, Grass Family
Tribe: Paniceae, Panicgrass Tribe
| Plant Facts | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Native |
| Duration | Perennial |
| Season | Warm |
| Distribution in the U.S. | Utah and Arizona east to Missouri, Arkansas and into southern Mexico |
| Distribution in Oklahoma | Western half of the state |
ID Characteristics
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Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Wiry stolons (runners) give vine-like appearance
- Nodes swollen with prominent fuzzy hairs
Floral
- Large oval spikelets close to stem of upright seed head
- Seed head can have sheath that terminates as vertical flag leaf
-
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 25-60 centimeters
- Ligule Type: Membranous
- Sheath: Glabrous or villous
- Leaves: Basal and cauline
-
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence Type: Panicles
- Florets Per Spikelet: 2
- Glumes: Nearly equal
| Habitat/Ecology | |
|---|---|
| Soil Type | Sandy, clay and gravelly soils |
| Habitat | Pure stands on the banks of streams and ponds, in depressions and in drainage ways |
| Successional Stage | Mid to late |