PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Wilcox's Panic Grass (Dichanthelium wilcoxianum)

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Photo by USDA-NRCS

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Wilcox's Panic Grass (Dichanthelium wilcoxianum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in dry, gravelly hillside prairies. Blooming occurs late-May through early-June, fruiting late-June through late-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through July.

Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. wilcoxianum, Panicum wilcoxianum

 
 
 

Wilcox's panic grass has a 2-5cm long panicle, spikelets to 3mm long, papillose-pubescent. Sheaths and blades are copiously papillose-hirsute, ligule 1mm long, blades firm, erect, 5-8cm long, usually involute-acuminate.

Wilcox's panic grass is distinguished from many other similar species by its pilose internodes.

Blooming occurs late-May through early-June, fruiting late-June through late-July.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through late-July.

Associated species include Asclepias verticillata, Aster sericeus, Solidago nemoralis, S rigida, other Panicum species, Liatris aspera, Kuhnia eupatorioides, and Ratibida pinnata.

Wilcox's panic grass is found in dry, gravelly hillside prairies.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes in open sandy areas dominated by native grasses.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.