BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Panicum obtusum | Vine-Mesquite 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Vine-mesquite is a native, perennial, warm season grass from 12 to 24
inches (35-70 cm) tall that produces rhizomes and stolons.  The rhizomes
are short and fibrous, whereas the stolons can be up to 10 feet (3 m) in
length.  The stolons have many rooting points at their swollen nodes.
The inflorescence is a densely flowered, narrow panicle up to 5 inches
(12 cm) in length; as it matures the seed turns brown [20,21,23].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Vine-mesquite reproduces by seed, rhizomes, and stolons [18].  To
achieve germination rates of approximately 30 percent vine-mesquite
requires a cool to warm soil temperature regime of 65 to 100 degrees
Fahrenheit (18-39 deg C).  Soil temperatures above this range result in
a germination rate of only 6 percent and a reduction of average shoot
height from 3 inches (7 cm) to 0.75 inches (1.8 cm) [38,39].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Vine-mesquite is an indicator of moist microsites in arid environments.
It is found along streams, roads, gullies, swales, playas, and arroyos
[2,5,10,16].

Soils:  Vine-mesquite occurs in the Alfisol, Entisol, Inceptisol,
Mollisol, and Vertisol soil orders [30].

Climate:  Vine-mesquite inhabits areas where the winters are short and
mild, and the summers are characterized by long periods of high
temperatures [4].  The average annual precipitation is 10 to 18 inches
(25-45 cm) [8].

Elevation:  Vine-mesquite generally grows in an elevational range of
1,000 to 6,000 feet (305-1,800 m) [24].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Vine-mesquite is a component of the climax vegetation in a mixed- grass
prairie association [6].  It decreases in response to grazing but
increases in response to fire [44].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Vine-mesquite is warm-season grass; thus it is summer active.  It is
actively growing from May to October [24]; it flowers from July to
August, depending on latitude and elevation [14].

Related categories for Species: Panicum obtusum | Vine-Mesquite