Panicum species

Online image request form

There are about 500 species of Panicum worldwide. Panic grasses always have panicles, which are compound inflorescences that have stalked flowers. They may be found floating in or emersed from large areas of open waters. Some species are serious pests. Panic grasses are important food sources for ducks and other water birds.

Panic grasses are grasses. stems to over 5 ft. tall; leaf blades lance-shaped, hairy or smooth, tapering toward point of attachment; sheaths open and hairy or smooth; ligule usually a ring of hairs; inflorescences large or small, branched, closed or spreading; spikelets always stalked, often obovoid, without awn hairs (that stick out of the middle)

View the herbarium specimen image of the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.

Panicum abscissum	Panicum sphagnicola	Panicum sphagnicolum