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| ## maidencane {#maidencane .Title-Header}                             |
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| *Panicum hemitomon* J.A. Schultes                                     |
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| Plant Symbol = PAHE2                                                  |
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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

Paille fine, canouche. The genus name, *Panicum*, is the largest group
of grass genera with approximately 500 species identified, which are
generally found in warmer regions.

## Uses

*Livestock:* Maidencane's forage value has been rated excellent for
livestock. It is known to produce as much as 5 tons of forage per acre,
which has been proved to be high in crude protein. When grazed, the
digestibility is at a peak of 50% and protein is at a peak of 10 to 11%.
One acre of the best range of maidencane will support an animal unit for
a six- month grazing period. However, as the plant dies back, it becomes
tougher and less desirable as a forage food. The best practice is using
the grass during the winter and spring, with a rest in the summer and
fall. In wetter areas, cattle walkways may be needed for greater
accessibility.

*Wildlife*: Maidencane's forage value for wildlife has been rated fair
for wildlife. Burning maidencane in the late fall, provides nesting and
food for other mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and vertebrates;
however, the vegetation may become so dense that it is less appealing to
other wildlife. Also, fishermen are often seeking out clumps of
maidencane located in at least two feet of water because the openings in
the clumps are likely to be filled with
bass.![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.348611111111111in"
height="3.8618055555555557in"}

*Erosion:* Maidencane is used for erosion control along shorelines of
ponds, lakes and other waterways because its expansive rhizomes
stabilize the soil. Shoreline erosion can be prevented if the waves do
not exceed 2 to 3 feet high for an extended period of time. It can
spread 24 to 30 inches per growing season; therefore, it is one of the
best plants to use to control erosion.

*Conservation Practices*: Maidencane, 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). It is a warm season, aquatic or
sub-aquatic, extensively rhizomatous perennial that forms almost pure
stands. The culms are glabrous and range in heights of 3 to 5 feet. The
leaf sheaths are overlapping, glabrous to greatly pubescent. The margins
are generally ciliate. The blades are flat and range in lengths of 8 to
12 inches, ½ inch wide, usually scabrous on top, and glabrous on the
bottom. The blades are slightly narrowed at the base, tapering as it
reaches the tip, and the margins are scabrous. The ligules are
membranous with irregular margins. The inflorescence consists of rames.
The lower rames are spaced out, whereas, the upper rames are spaced
closely together. The spikelets are awnless, broadest at the base and up
to ¹∕6 inch long. The first glume is 3 nerved, sharply angled, glabrous
or scantily scabrous apically, and ½ as long as the second glume. The
second glume is 5 nerved, sharply angled, and scantily scabrous on
mid-nerve apically with opaque margins. The sterile lemma is 3 nerved,
glabrous, and strongly angled to acuminate with opaque margins. The
sterile paleas are strongly angled to acuminate and have opaque margins.
The fertile lemma and palea are straw colored and acuminate. The
caryopsis is ellipsoid and smooth.

*Distribution*: Maidencane is found in coastal and freshwater marshes,
edges of ponds, lakes, ditches, canals, and cypress-gum ponds. It is
found in coastal states reaching from New Jersey to Texas, also in
Arkansas, Tennessee, and Brazil. It is native to Louisiana. For current
distribution, consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the
PLANTS Web site.

## Establishment

*Adaptation*: Maidencane is found in all of Louisiana's Major Land
Resource Areas (MLRA) except for Western Gulf Coast Flatwoods (152B).
Pure stands of maidencane are frequently found in shallow regions,
usually ranging at water levels that fluctuate from 2 inches above the
soil surface to 4 inches below the soil surface. However, it may be
found in areas of water depths of up to 7 feet or more. It is found in
freshwater where salinities range from 0 to 0.5 parts per thousand.
Intrusion of salt water can destroy maidencane. It thrives on a wide
range of soils, from firm mineral clay to floating organic soils.
Maidencane is probably the major contributor of organic matter to the
Louisiana coastal marsh.

Maidencane can be propagated by seed or by plant division. It grows from
late winter until fall and flowers through the months of April to
October. Maidencane fruits abundantly during wet years that follow
periods of drought. The fresh shoots appear from January to March and a
second growing period may take place from October to December.
Maidencane should be planted in a high to normal water level.

The rhizomes are transplanted on wet, periodically flooded freshwater
sites in late winter or early spring. The plants should not be placed in
water over 1 inch deep. Maidencane rhizomes should not be planted more
than 2 inches deep in the soil and spaced at one foot apart or less. If
planted in furrows, cover the rhizome with soil. At establishment,
broadcast five pounds of 13-13-13 fertilizers or its equivalent per 100
feet of planted row. No fertilizer is needed if planted on catfish pond
levees or in constructed wetlands. The nutrients in the water will
supply enough fertility for the plants.

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.

When the rhizomes are deeply submerged and protected and the water
levels do not recede more than 4 inches below the soil surface, fire can
have a positive impact on maidencane. Burned during stable conditions,
maidencane's re-growth is healthier and faster by producing new shoots 3
to 4 days after and it is denser in 6 months than it was before the
fire. Not only does fire cause maidencane to flower sooner, it also
increases the number of inflorescences. Regrowth depends on the
following three factors: how quickly it was burned, depth the soil was
burned, and how slowly the water levels increase. Studies have shown
that inundation after a fire and burning too late in the year have not
produced desirable effects. If the fires do not occur, then woody
species would invade the area and maidencane would eventually disappear.
If burning maidencane is not a preference, roller chopping in the late
winter or early spring produces the similar desired effects.

## Management

Sometimes, maidencane can become a weed in moist cultivated fields. If
it becomes a weed, then periodic mowing is recommended. Spraying
herbicides in dense stands can create openings. Check with the local
extension service for recommended herbicides. Maidencane 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. The USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, in cooperation with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry
Experiment Station, released 'Halifax' in 1974. It was collected near
Halifax, North Carolina. 'Halifax' was selected for growth and
persistence in erosion control on sites at the waterline and constructed
wetlands.

## 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. 704-706.

Texas A&M University 1997. *Grass images: Panicum hemitomon*.
\<http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/taesgrass/4639900c.jpg\>.
Bioinformatics Working Group, College Station, Texas.

USDA NRCS 2003. *The PLANTS database*. Version: 10aug03. National Plant
Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA. \<http://plants.usda.gov\>

## Prepared By

# *Selena Dawn Newman*

USDA, NRCS, Louisiana State Office

# *Maraya Gates*

Formerly of 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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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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