Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Order: Poales

 Family: Poaceae

 Genus: Panicum

Species: Panicum virgatum

Description: Panicum virgatum is a perennial grass growing from a rhizomatous rootstock. The rhizomes are often loosely interwoven, sometimes short or forming a knotty crown. The culms range from 40 – 300cm tall, are 3 – 5 mm thick, sometimes solitary, at others forming dense erect or decumbent clumps

The plant Is sometimes grown in soil stabilization schemes and is a potential source of biomass. There are several named forms, developed for their ornamental value

Panicum virgatum has a high risk of becoming a weed in any new area into which it is introduced.

Uses:

Agroforestry Uses:

A valuable soil-stabilization plant, it is used as ground cover to control erosion.

It can be used as an energy substitute and is often considered a good candidate for bio-fuel, especially ethanol fuel production, due to its hardiness against poor soil and climate conditions, rapid growth and low fertilization and herbicide requirements.

The plant is sometimes used as a windbreak in crop fields[289