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| ## beaked panicgrass {#beaked-panicgrass .Title-Header}               |
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| *Panicum anceps* Michx.                                               |
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| Plant Symbol = PAAN                                                   |
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*Contributed by: USDA, NRCS, Louisiana State Office, National Plant Data
Center, & the Grazing Land Conservation Initiative-South Central Region*

## Alternative Names![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.779166666666667in" height="3.870833333333333in"}

Beaked panicum and spreading panicum. Synonyms of the scientific name of
beaked panicgrass are *Panicum anceps* var. *rhizomatum* and *Panicum
rhizomatum.* The seed resembles the slightly curved beak of a bird,
hence the common name, beaked panicgrass.

## Uses

*Livestock:* Cattle and horses readily graze beaked panicgrass from
early spring to late fall. Grazing should be deferred through the summer
because it will improve plant vigor and density. Overgrazing will reduce
the amount of this plant and allow lesser value plants to invade. If
cattle and horses graze

Beaked panicgrass in the winter, then protein and energy supplements are
necessary.

*Wildlife*: Deer graze on beaked panicgrass. The seeds are eaten by most
upland birds and by some waterfowl.

*Erosion:* Beaked panicgrass is used for the revegetation of surfaces
such as mined land, logging sites, timber roads, and other disturbed
areas.

*Conservation Practices*: Beaked panicgrass, because of its growth
habit, potentially has application when established with certain
conservation practices; however, conservation practice standards vary by
state. For localized information, consult your local NRCS Field Office.

## Status

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

## Description

*General*: Grass Family (Poaceae). Beaked panicgrass is a native,
rhizomatous perennial. The culms are glabrous, erect and up to 4 feet
tall. The blades are elongated, flat, glabrous to pubescent, and range
in widths of ¼ to ½ inch wide. The ligules are membranous, irregular
shaped and about 1∕16 inch long. The inflorescences are open panicles, 6
to 15 inches long, ascending and usually bearing appressed, short
branchlets. Spikelets are unequally positioned on the pedicle and range
in lengths of ⅛ to ¼ inch wide. The first glume is 1/4 to ½ the length
of the spikelets. It is sharply angled, 3 to 5 nerved, and encompasses
nearly the entire base of the spikelet. The second glume is as long as
the spikelet and with 5 to 7 nerves. The second glume is curved like a
bird's beak. The thin, dry sterile palea is ⅛ inch long. The fertile
palea and lemma are angled, straw-colored, slightly pubescent with stiff
hairs at the apexes and is up to ⅛ inch long. The caryopsis is
oval-shaped and purple in color.

*Distribution*: Beaked panicgrass can tolerate a wide range of habitats,
from well-drained sandy soil to waterlogged sites. It is native to
Louisiana and is found from New Jersey to Kansas, south to Florida and
over to Texas. For current distribution, consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

## Establishment

*Adaptation*: Beaked panicgrass grows on moist to wet soils along
margins of fresh marshes, swamps, and bottomlands that overflow
occasionally. It grows best under 30 to 35 percent shade.

Beaked panicgrass reproduces by seeds, tillers, and rhizomes. It flowers
only once a year in the fall and produces an abundant amount of seed.
However, not much research has been done on germination. Beaked
panicgrass is most commonly established by rhizomes, which will form
pure stands of large clumps.

The seeds should be planted in the fall or early winter. The rhizomes
could be planted from December to April; however, if planting after
April, then plenty of water should be provided.

Plants should be placed at 3 foot-centers. Growth begins in February and
beaked panicgrass remains green all year round.

It is not recommended to mix beaked panicgrass seeds with cool season
grass seeds. In parts of the United States where cool season grasses
dominate, the warm season grasses can be taken over because they develop
slower than the cool season grasses. It is also recommended that seed
not be moved more than 300 miles north, 100 miles east or west, or 200
miles south of its point of origin.

## Management

Beaked panicgrass maintains its production and contributes only small
quantities of forage. However, check with the local extension service
for recommended herbicides if it becomes weedy. Beaked panicgrass has no
known pests or problems.

## Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Contact your local NRCS Field Office. Common seed and container plants
are readily available from a number of growers, wholesalers, and
retailers of native seed.

## References

Hitchcock, A.S. 1950. *Manual of the grasses of the United States*. USDA
Miscellaneous Publication No 200. Agricultural Research Administration,
Washington, D.C. Pp. 702.

Texas A&M University 1997. *Grass images: Panicum anceps*.
\<http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/taesgrass/4634500e.jpg\>.
Bioinformatics Working Group, College Station, Texas.

USDA, NRCS 2000. *The PLANTS database*. \<http://plants.usda.gov\>.
001106. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

## Prepared By

# *Selena Dawn Newman*

USDA, NRCS, Louisiana State Office

# *Maraya Gates*

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

## Species Coordinator

# *Mike Materne*

Louisiana State University, Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited 06dec00 jsp;05feb03ahv; 10aug03 jsp; 25may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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