Mucronate sprangletop (Leptochloa panicea, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 55: 311 (1941))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (Retz.) Ohwi

Bibliography: Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 55: 311 (1941)

Year: 1941

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Leptochloa

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Asia, America

Description

Mucronate sprangletop, scientifically known as Leptochloa panicea, is a grass species belonging to the Poaceae family. This particular grass has garnered attention and recognition in botanical circles, having been documented in the Botanical Magazine of Tokyo in the year 1941 by the botanist Ohwi.

Geographically, Leptochloa panicea is predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions across Asia and America. Its presence in these diverse climatic zones signifies its adaptability and resilience to varying environmental conditions.

The plant earns the common name “mucronate sprangletop” from its distinctive morphological features. It is important in the study of flora due to its ability to thrive in different terrains, making it a vital component of the ecosystems where it is present. While often overlooked, grasses like Leptochloa panicea play crucial roles in their native habitats by providing food and habitat for various wildlife, preventing soil erosion, and contributing to the overall biodiversity.

Understanding and documenting species like Leptochloa panicea enhances our knowledge of plant biodiversity and the intricate relationships within ecosystems. The work of botanists such as Ohwi in identifying and cataloging plant species ensures that we continue to appreciate and conserve the rich diversity of plant life on our planet.

Common Names

Eng: mucronate sprangletop, windgrass
Swe: nålspretgräs
En: Mucronate Sprangletop, Windgrass
Sv: Nålspretgräs
: Mucronate sprangletop

Synonyms

• Dinebra panicea ((Retz.) P.M.Peterson & N.Snow)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• California (native)
• Cayman Is. (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Illinois (native)
• India (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Utah (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Ghana (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Saudi Arabia (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jul 4, 2014 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

Habit

Taken Jul 4, 2014 by Nelson Zamora Villalobos (cc-by-nc)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2703872)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:407138-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Leptochloa panicea (Retz.) Ohwi)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Graminoid

Growth