Dichanthelium bicknellii (Nash) LeBlond

Locations ofDichanthelium bicknellii (Nash) LeBlond in Virginia

Show image without county labels

Detail

Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Dichanthelium bicknellii (Nash) LeBlond
Common Name
Bicknell's Panic Grass
Synonym(s)
Dichanthelium boreale (Nash) Freckmann, in part; Panicum bicknellii Nash
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Dichanthelium bicknellii (Nash) LeBlond
Comments
The new combination in Dichanthelium was made by LeBlond in J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 10(1):35 (2016). The species has been treated variously in the past (as Panicum bicknellii). FNA and others treat it as a putative hybrid (perhaps D. depauperatum x commutatum var. ashei) while others include it in D. boreale. Although reported south of Virginia (Weakley, 2012), prior to its rediscovery in 2013 by Townsend and Wieboldt, single collections in Farifax and Spotsylvania counties (in 1919 and 1947, respectively) provided the only documentation for the taxon. LeBlond reports a spotty distribution in many eastern states. Recent, targeted field surveys have documented this species in a number of Virginia mountain and Piedmont counties.
However, except in military training areas and natural are preserves managed by prescribed fires, populations tend to have low numbers of individuals, which may contribute to the species being under-reported to some extent.
Habitat
Grassy openings in dry, hickory-dominated woodlands with shaly substrates, shale barrens, and limestone woods in Ridge and Valley; dry woodlands and clearings over felsic and mafic rocks in Piedmont. Infrequent, mountains and Piedmont.
Native Status
Native

To save this map, right-click (control-click for Mac users) on the map and choose "Save Image As...".