Bitter Panicum amarum

Propagation Guide

Scientific Name Wetland Indicator Category Panicum amarum Elliot FACU-, FAC Common Name Growth Form Bitter Panicum Rhizomatous perennial grass, stems solitary Group or in clumps, stiff with bluish green leaves Habitat Family Beaches, dunes, swales (Gramineae) Panicum amarum

1 Seed Collection Observe development of Panicum amarum on beaches and dunes. In coastal Mississippi and along the northern Gulf of Mexico flowering generally occurs between July and October (Duncan and Duncan 1987); however, this may vary from year to year depending on weather conditions. The inflorescence of Panicum amarum is a panicle (a branched cluster of flowers) containing light-brown oval spikelets. Very few of the mature dry fruit (caryopsis) that contains a single seed are viable. The seeds can be harvested in the field by cutting the stem below the and placing them into large plastic bags. Not all inflorescences mature at the same time. Repeated site visits may be necessary to collect inflorescences that ripen at different times. Collection of seeds is not recommended for this species because of the poor success germinating from seed. Since Panicum amarum can easily be propagated vegetatively, seed processing and storage are not necessary. 2 Seed Preparation, Storage and Germination Successful seed-based germination protocols are not well-known for this species, and should be further investigated. 3 Collection In contrast to seed-based germination, propagation from vegetative material has been very successful (Eleuterius and Caldwell 1987). A new shoot will develop from the nodal bud and will give rise to a new plant. The plant material can be harvested in the field in late summer or fall by cutting the culm (stem) at the substrate and placing the vegetative material into large plastic bags. The collected culms can be stored damp in the plastic bags under refrigeration 39ºF (4ºC) for up to three weeks (Eleuterius and Caldwell 1987).

Distichlis spicata PHOTO CPR

5 cm

Panicum amarum inflorescence Panicum amarum culms soaking before trimming PHOTO CPR PHOTO CPR

CENTER FOR PLANT RESTORATION & COASTAL PLANT RESEARCH Propagation Guide

4 Vegetative Propagation Method Panicum amarum can be propagated vegetatively by removing the leaves and sheath from the culm and exposing the bud located at each node. This node can develop into a new shoot and roots. Remove each node from the culm by cutting the internode approximately 0.5" (1.3 cm) below and about 3" (7.5 cm) above the node. It is best to use only the nodes removed from the lower section (older nodes) of the culm (Eleuterius and Caldwell 1987). Each trimmed node can then be placed into a hydrated peat pellet (Jiffy Products -Jiffy 7). Planted nodes are then placed in 20 x 10" (51 x 25 cm) plastic bedding trays (Landmark Plastic -L1020NCR(N) no holes). These hold 50 peat pellets and should be sub-irrigated with tap water on a daily basis. The trays with transplanted nodes are then placed in a greenhouse and grown for one to two months until they reach a size of at least 6" (15 cm) tall. These larger plants can then be planted into 4 or 6" (10 or 15 cm) diameter 5 cm containers with a low-organic soil mixture (1:1 topsoil:sand ratio), and kept sub- irrigated for a minimum of two to four months to form a well-developed root mass Panicum amarum culms with nodal buds (Appendix B). Young plants 12" (30 cm) in height being grown in peat pellets can PHOTO CPR also be transplanted directly to the restoration site. This species has very fast growth rates and plants that are held for a longer time period may need the stem and leaves trimmed with little effect to the plants. Plants are fertilized with a full strength (per manufacturer directions) water-soluble 20-20-20 general purpose fertilizer monthly, poured directly onto the soil. When the root mass is well developed these plants are ready to be transplanted to a restoration site or into larger containers for further growth (Appendix C).

Inserting culms into peat pellets Different growth stages of Panicum amarum Panicum amarum with inflorescences PHOTO CPR PHOTO CPR PHOTO CPR

CENTER FOR PLANT RESTORATION & COASTAL PLANT RESEARCH Panicum amarum Propagation Guide

Vegetative Propagation Charts

Ambient Ambient Ambient Temperature Temperature Temperature

Greenhouse Greenhouse Greenhouse Full Sun Full Sun Full Sun

Mature Sub-irrigated Sub-irrigated Container Peat Pellets Containers Plants Fertilize Monthly

Trimmed Culms with Nodes Transplanted Culms Container Plants Remove When 3-6 Months Old 1-2 Months 2-4 Months

Citations CPR Propagation Guide Team Duncan, W.H. and M.B. Duncan. 1987. The Smithsonian Guide to Seaside Dr. Patrick Biber J.D. Caldwell Scott R. Caldwell Matthew Marenberg Plants of the Gulf and Atlantic Coast from Louisiana to Massachusetts, exclusive of Lower Peninsular Florida. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Further Information Eleuterius, L.N. and J.D. Caldwell. 1987. Panicum amarum (beach panicum): USDA PLANTS profile: the ideal plant for sand beach stabilization and dune building. Pages 209-220 in http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PAAM2 N.V. Brodtmann Jr. (ed) Fourth Water Quality and Wetlands Management Conference Proceedings. New Orleans, Louisiana. Center for Plant Restoration and Coastal Plant Research: http://sites.google.com/site/coastalplantrestoration/home

Field guide and images of Coastal Mississippi Wetland plant species: http://jcho.masgc.org/

NRCS Jamie L. Whitten Plant Materials Center: Plant Guide for Establishing Coastal Vegetation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/mspmspu7271.pdf

Dr. Patrick Biber Email [email protected] Phone 228 872 4200 Fax

228 872 4204 This brochure is funded in part with qualified outer continental shelf oil and gas revenues by the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, U.S. Mail Department of the Interior through a grant award to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. 703 East Beach Drive The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or Ocean Springs, MS 39564 commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.