Taxon Report

Panicum hirticaule J. Presl ssp. hirticaule

roughstalk witch grass

Print Report

Taxon Summary

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:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	annual herb
Blooming Period: Aug-Dec	Aug-Dec
Elevation:	45-1315 (150-4315)
General Habitats:	Desert dunes, Joshua tree "woodland", Mojavean desert scrub, Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Sandy
Microhabitat Details:	depressions, silt

Conservation Status


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

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	18
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	3
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	1
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	13

Location


California Endemic: False
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)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

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.

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2013-08-28

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 5 February 2025].