Velvet dichanthelium

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Velvet dichanthelium

Velvet dichanthelium leaf

Velvet dichanthelium

Velvet dichanthelium inflorescence

Velvet dichanthelium

Velvet dichanthelium

Velvet dichanthelium spikelets

Morphology

Culm

Solitary or few, erect or genticulate at base, stout, forming tufts, initially unbranched, becoming much-branched later in summer and autumn; nodes densely bearded with long hairs, broad glabrous or viscid-glandular band below each node, culm otherwise velvety pubescent.

Blades

Lanceolate, 2 to 10 inches long, 1/4 to 4/5 inch wide, base rounded, surfaces grey velvety pubescent, tip tapering to sharp point; rosette dense, blades shorter, culm blades longer, narrower.

Sheath

Loose, sticky-glandular along middle of back, otherwise gray velvety pubescent.

Ligule

Inconspicuous line or band of minute hairs.

Inflorescence

Panicle,often shorter than blade, ovoid in outline, 2.4 to 6 inches; branches spreading to loosely ascending, mostly rebranched; secondary panicles reduced.

Spikelets

Appearing long-stalked at ends of branches; obovate, .08 to .1 inch, softly pubescent, apiculate; first glume 1/4 to 5/8 as long as spikelet, broadly ovate, tip sharply pointed; second glume and lower lemma nearly equal, ca. as long as spikelet.

Ecology

Habitat

Moist sandy woods and low areas, roadsides, fallow fields, bottomland and upland prairies.

Distribution

East 1/5 of Kansas

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.