Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses

DEER-TONGUE

File Size: 91 KB

Dichanthelium clandestinum (L. ) Gould

[=Panicum clandestinum L.]

Jefferson County, Kansas

Perennial

Height: 14-56 inches tall

Family: Poaceae - Grass Family

Flowering Period: June, July, August

Also Called:

Deertongue dichanthelium, deer-tongue rosette grass.

Culms:

Several in clumps, erect, ascending or arched, unbranched or upper nodes becoming sparsely branched during the summer and autumn, glabrous or short stiff-hairy.

Blades:

Flat, 4 to 8 inches long, .5 to 1.25 inches wide, ascending to spreading, mid-vein and larger lateral veins prominent; surfaces smooth to rough, marginal hairs near base; base heart-shaped, slightly clasping; tip tapering to point.

Sheaths:

As long as internodes, lower ones stiff-hairy with spreading hairs.

Ligules:

Very short ridge or membrane.

Inflorescences:

Panicle, pyramidal, 3 to 6 inches long, about 3/4 as wide, terminal; branches loosely ascending or spreading, often re-branching 1 or more times.

Spikelets:

Long-stalked, elliptic-obovate, 1/10 to 1/8 inch long, finely pubescent, borne at ends of branches; first glume 1/3 to 1/2 as long as spikelet, second glume nearly as long as spikelet.

Habitat:

Woods, brushy areas, banks of streams, roadsides, moist prairie depressions, moist disturbed areas; moist, sandy or rocky soil.

Distribution:

East 1/2 of Kansas.

Comments:

Secondary panicles continue to bloom into autumn.

Deer-tongue