Plant
Witch Grass
Panicum capillareAlso known as Witchgrass, Tickle Grass, Tumble Panicgrass, Old Witch Grass
Witch grass produces airy, highly branched flower heads that break off at maturity to roll across open ground like miniature tumbleweeds. Its leaves and stems are noticeably hairy, giving the plant a coarse, rough texture when handled. This adaptable annual readily colonizes disturbed soil, agricultural fields, and roadside gravel across North America.
AnnualTumbleweedHairy Stem
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic
Predators
- Grasshoppers
- Granivorous birds
- Grazing livestock
ThreatsHerbicide application, heavy soil cultivation
HabitatsDisturbed ground, roadsides, crop fields, grasslands
Life span1 year (annual)
Classification
- OrderPoales
- FamilyPoaceae
- GenusPanicum
- SpeciesPanicum capillare
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for the delicate, spreading seed heads in late summer.
- Identification: Feel the dense hairs covering the leaf sheaths and lower stems.
- Dispersal: Watch mature seed heads break away and roll in light breezes.
Frequent Companion no rights reserved, uploaded by Carter Dorscht · cc0
Close Relative (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
Close Relative (c) fmunoz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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