Species Details

Panicum hirticaule ssp. hirticaule

roughstalk witch grass

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Species Description:

Panicum hirticaule ssp. hirticaule, commonly known as roughstalk witch grass, is a annual herb in the Poaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Desert dunes, Joshua tree "woodland", Mojavean desert scrub, and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 45 to 1315 meters. Panicum hirticaule ssp. hirticaule is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Panicum hirticaule J. Presl ssp. hirticaule
Common Name: roughstalk witch grass
Family:	Poaceae
Element Code:	PMPOA4K170
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEP, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G5T5
State Rank:	S2
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes: added to 2B.1 on 2013-08-28
Add Date:	2013-08-28
Date Edited:	2023-12-05

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual herb

Blooming Period: Aug-Dec

Elevation:
45 - 1315 meters
150 - 4315 feet

General Habitats:

Desert dunes
Joshua tree "woodland"
Mojavean desert scrub
Sonoran desert scrub

Microhabitat Details: depressions, silt

Microhabitat:

Sandy

Notes

Notes: Many occurrences historical; need field surveys. See Reliquiae Haenkeanae 1(4-5):308 (1830) for original description.
Threats: Seriously threatened by solar and wind energy development. Threatened by urbanization.
Taxonomy: Similar to P. capillare and P. miliaceum ssp. miliaceum.

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	4
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	5	28 %
ORV activity	5	27%
Development	4	22%
Mining	3	16%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	5%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					18
A	B	C	D	X	U
3	0	1	1	0	13

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	4
Recent <=20 Years	14

Presence:
Presumed Extant	18
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Arizona (AZ), Baja California (BA), California (CA), Nevada (NV), New Mexico (NM), Sonora, Mexico (SO), South America (SA), Texas (TX)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Imperial (IMP), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Yuma East (3211465), Amos (3311513), Castle Peaks (3511532), Clarks Pass (3411515), Clyde (3211488), Coyote Wells (3211568), East of Aztec Mines (3311551), Glamis (3211581), Hart Peak (3511531), Hayfield (3311566), Hayfield Spring (3311565), Hopkins Well (3311458), Roosevelt Mine (3311457), San Bernardino Wash (3311586), Yuma West (3211466)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory