Skip to main content

Leiberg dichanthelium

Also known as: Leiberg rosettegrass

Dichanthelium liebergii (Vasey) Freckmann

Images

Click on image to view full size

Leiberg dichanthelium blades
Leiberg dichanthelium
Leiberg dichanthelium culm and sheath pubescence
Leiberg dichanthelium blades
Leiberg dichanthelium autumn habit

Morphology

Culm
Erect or geniculate, slender, branching mostly from base, internodes sparsely pilose to glabrous.
Blades
Basal and cauline, ascending or erect; blades 2.4 to 6 inches long, .3 to .6 inch wide, surfaces sparsely to densely papillose-hispid; blades slender and reduced on later branches.
Sheath
Shorter than the internodes, strongly papillose-hispid.
Ligule
Minute ciliate membrane
Inflorescence
Panicle, pyramidal, open, 3 to 4 inches long, ca. 2 inches wide; branches ascending.
Spikelets
Elliptical, ca. .15 inch, papillose-hispid; florets 2; first glume half as long as spikelet, .06 to .1 inch, acuminate, papillose, second glume .1 to .14 inch, acute, 7-veined, papillose; lower lemma about equaling second glume, 9-veined, papillose, upper lemma .1 to .12 inch, glabrous.

Ecology

Habitat
Prairies, meadows, open woods; full sun; sandy or rocky soils.
Distribution
East 1/5 of Kansas

Additional Notes

Comments

Leiberg dichanthelium does not produce a large amount of forage. The autumn form is sparingly branched from the middle and lower nodes and produces a secondary inflorescence until early fall.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Grass
Family
Poaceae - Grass Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
8-30 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2019-02-26
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: May, June