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Panicum capillare
  • Old Witch Grass

an annual member of the Panicum genus in the family Gramineae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Panicum capillare has 0 edible uses listed
Panicum capillare has 0 material uses listed
Panicum capillare has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked whole or ground into a powder and used as a flour[1]. It is often mixed with corn[[2][3]. The seed is very small and fiddly to use, it has a mild flavour and can be used like millet[K]. In the wild, the seed stem breaks off when the seed is ripe and then blows away in the wind, scattering the seed[4].

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

The grass can be made into brooms[1].

Unknown part

Broom

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

An infusion of the leaves has been used as an emetic[1]. An infusion of the plant has been used as a reducing aid when dieting[1].

Unknown part

Emetic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within a week. Prick out the seedlings into trays or individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts[200, K].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Panicum capillare. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Panicum capillare. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Panicum capillare.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Panicum capillare
Genus
Panicum
Family
Gramineae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[1]
Material uses & Functions
[1]
Botanic
[6][5][4]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.6 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    3. ? 3.03.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Hitchcock. A. S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22717-0 (1971-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.


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    Facts about "Panicum capillare"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyGramineae +
    Belongs to genusPanicum +
    Has binomial namePanicum capillare +
    Has common nameOld Witch Grass +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partSeed +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeWind +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBroom +
    Has mature height0.6 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useEmetic +
    Has search namepanicum capillare + and old witch grass +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy namePanicum capillare +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Panicum capillare +, Panicum capillare + and Panicum capillare +