Mucronate Sprangletop
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(Leptochloa panicea)
Mucronate Sprangletop (Leptochloa panicea)
/
scallions
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
scallions
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Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: scallions | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: scallions | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2023-11-21T13:14:16-08:00 |
Summary
Leptochloa panicea, commonly known as Mucronate Sprangletop, Sprangletop, Mexican Sprangletop, Windgrass, or Red Sprangletop, is a semi-deciduous perennial or annual grass. It is native to marshes, wet meadows, and the edges of water bodies in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This grass typically grows rapidly to a height of 1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters) and features a tufted habit with fine-textured, green foliage. The flowers are green and inconspicuous, blooming in the fall, and are not particularly showy, but they do produce a cloud-like effect when in large numbers.
Leptochloa panicea thrives in full sun and prefers medium to slow-draining clay, loam, or sandy soils. It requires high amounts of water, making it suitable for wetland restoration projects and as a forage grass in agricultural settings. Its rapid growth and adaptability to wet conditions can make it a useful plant for erosion control. However, due to its potential invasiveness, it should be planted with caution outside its native range. It can become a weed in rice fields and other crop areas, and its aggressive growth may outcompete native vegetation.CC BY-SA 4.0
Leptochloa panicea thrives in full sun and prefers medium to slow-draining clay, loam, or sandy soils. It requires high amounts of water, making it suitable for wetland restoration projects and as a forage grass in agricultural settings. Its rapid growth and adaptability to wet conditions can make it a useful plant for erosion control. However, due to its potential invasiveness, it should be planted with caution outside its native range. It can become a weed in rice fields and other crop areas, and its aggressive growth may outcompete native vegetation.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Semi-deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: Medium, Slow, Standing
Common Uses
Erosion Control, Groundcover
Natural Habitat
Native to marshes, wet meadows, and the edges of water bodies in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
Other Names
Common Names: Sprangletop, Mexican Sprangletop, Windgrass, Red sprangletop
Scientific Names: Leptochloa panicea, Dinebra panicea, Festuca filiformis, Leptochloa filiformis subsp. humilior, Poa panicea
GBIF Accepted Name: Leptochloa panicea