Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum
Fall panic grass, Fall Panic Grass
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum (Fall panic grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by succulent stems and inflated, compressed sheaths.
Fall panic grass is a naturalized annual found in eastern Klamath Ranges, California Ranges, western California Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California Coast, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed areas, wet ground, and fields at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from June to November, this grass produces small green to tan spikelets that are approximately 2.2 to 3 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 20 to 100 centimeters tall, it has somewhat succulent stems that are moderately compressed. Its leaf blades are 8 to 22 centimeters long and 4 to 15 millimeters wide, with upper surfaces that are smooth and glabrous. The plant forms open panicle inflorescences 7 to 20 centimeters long with branches bearing 1 to 2 spikelets per node.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; key feature is succulent stems and inflated, compressed sheaths
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, wet ground, fields
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Riverside, Shasta, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Glenn, Sacramento, Placer, San Diego, Tehama, Butte, Yuba, Plumas, Stanislaus, Nevada, Colusa, Siskiyou, Yolo, Santa Cruz
Outside California: native to eastern United States
Bloom period
Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum blooms Jun-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Deschampsia: Panicum has thick rigid lemmas and well-developed lower glumes; hairgrass has thin awned florets and tiny glumes.; vs Dichanthelium: Panicum has a single flowering period; rosette grass produces two distinct flower types (spring and summer).; vs Hilaria: Panicum has single spikelets on branches; curly mesquite has spikelets in clusters of three along a spike.; vs Sorghum: Panicum has single spikelets throughout panicle; sorghum has three-spikelet groups at branch tips.; vs Echinochloa: Panicum has a membranous ligule and panicle; barnyard grass lacks a ligule and has bristly branches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum native to California?
No. Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum bloom?
Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum blooms Jun-Nov.
Where in California does Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum grow?
Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum occurs in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Orange, Riverside, Shasta, El Dorado, San Bernardino, Glenn and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum belong to?
Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum is in the Poaceae family, genus Panicum.
What habitat does Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum grow in?
Panicum dichotomiflorum subsp. dichotomiflorum grows in Disturbed areas, wet ground, fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.