Panicum virgatum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644031c8bb331813018391 |
| Scientific name | Panicum virgatum |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 59 (1753) |
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Switchgrass is processed into hay and baled feedstock for ruminant livestock; it is also converted to solid biofuels as baled material or pelleted fuel. In bio-based materials, it serves as particleboard feedstock and as a component in cellulose pulps. In horticulture it is sold as erosion-control mulch and live plant material for ornamental uses.
Industrial and craft applications:
In the United States, switchgrass baled for energy is graded to ASTM E1115 and traded under standardized test methods (e.g., ASTM E871 for moisture, E872 for higher heating value). Pelletized switchgrass for non-woody solid biofuels follows ISO 17225 series classification for quality classes, with grade assignment by sampling and analysis standards (ISO 14780 for preparation, ISO 13909 for sampling). It is used in laboratory systems as a reference feedstock for quantifying saccharification yields from lignocellulosic pretreatment and enzyme cocktails.
Colorants and tanning:
There are no verified records of switchgrass being used historically as a natural colorant or tanning material.
Wood and fiber:
Switchgrass fiber is processed in mild alkaline pulping, with kraft and soda pulping used in laboratory trials to produce pulp with brightness and yield data comparable to other grasses. The stem fiber and whole-culm material are formed into particleboard and medium-density fiberboard after conditioning; typical mechanical properties reflect lignocellulose composition and the short fiber length typical of herbaceous biomass.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
There are no verified fragrance, cosmetic, or perfumery applications for switchgrass.
Properties relevant to use:
Fuel pellets rely on moisture (ASTM E871) and energy density (ASTM E872, E711) meeting ISO 17225-2 non-woody pellet specifications. Pulp properties reflect a cellulose/lignin ratio typical of warm-season C4 grasses and a fiber morphology suited to short-fiber paper grades. Particleboard and MDF performance depend on bulk density and compressibility of switchgrass particles after drying.
Standards and regulation:
Pellet fuel quality is governed by ISO 17225-2, with sampling and preparation methods specified in ISO 14780 and ISO 13909; U.S. market-based energy wood pellet specifications (e.g., Pellet Fuels Institute Standard) provide common grading and performance practices. Baled energy grass grading follows ASTM E1115, with analytical methods E871, E872, and E711 used for trading.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Switchgrass is widely produced as a perennial bioenergy and forage crop in North America and is also cultivated as an ornamental; regional cropping systems are informed by agronomic practices and species performance to supply biomass for fuel, fiber, and animal feed applications.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Chasea virgata | Nieuwl. | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 2: 64 (1911) |
| Eatonia purpurascens | Raf. | J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. Arts 89: 104 (1819) |
| Ichnanthus glaber | Link ex Steud. | Syn. Pl. Glumac. [Steudel] 1: 94. 1854 (1854) |
| Milium virgatum | Lunell | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 4: 212 (1915) |
| Milium virgatum var. elongatum | Lunell | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 4: 212 (1915) |
| Panicum buchingeri | E.Fourn. & E.Fourn. | Mexic. Pl. 2: 30 (1886) |
| Panicum coloratum | F.Muell. | Fragm. (Mueller) 8(67): 192. 1874 [Jul 1874] |
| Panicum giganteum | Scheele | Linnaea 22: 340 (1849) |
| Panicum glaberrimum | Steud. | Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 94 (1854) |
| Panicum ichnanthoides | E.Fourn. & E.Fourn. | Mexic. Pl. 2: 30 (1886) |
| Panicum kunthii | E.Fourn. & E.Fourn. | Mexic. Pl. 2: 29 (1886) |
| Panicum pruinosum | Bernh. ex Trin. | Gram. Panic. : 191 (1826) |
| Panicum virgatum subsp. cubense | (Griseb.) Borhidi | Bot. Közlem. 58: 175 (1971) |
| Panicum virgatum var. breviramosum | Nash | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 23: 150 (1896) |
| Panicum virgatum var. confertum | Vasey | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 13: 26 (1886) |
| Panicum virgatum var. cubense | Griseb. | Cat. Pl. Cub. : 233 (1866) |
| Panicum virgatum var. diffusum | Vasey | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 13: 26 (1886) |
| Panicum virgatum var. elongatum | Vasey | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 13: 26 (1886) |
| Panicum virgatum var. glauciphyllum | Cassidy | Bull. Colorado Agric. Exp. Sta. 12: 29. 1890 |
| Panicum virgatum var. obtusum | Alph.Wood | Amer. Bot. Fl. 2: 392. 1871 |
| Panicum virgatum var. scorteum | Linder | Rhodora 24: 14 (1922) |
| Panicum virgatum var. spissum | Linder | Rhodora 24: 15 (1922) |
| Panicum virgatum var. thyrsiforme | Linder | Rhodora 24: 14 (1922) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | switchgrass |
| Spanish | mijo perenne |
| Arabic | ثمام عصوي |
| Arabic | دخن عصوي |
| Catalan | switchgrass |
| Czech | proso prutnaté |
| Danish | pryd-hirse |
| Danish | staude-hirse |
| Danish | prærie-hirse |
| Danish | ris-hirse |
| German | rutenhirse |
| Esperanto | verga milio |
| Persian | switchgrass |
| Finnish | luutahirssi |
| Finnish | lännenhirssi |
| French | panic érigé |
| French | switchgrass |
| Hebrew | דוחן וירגטום |
| Hungarian | ágas köles |
| Hungarian | vesszős köles |
| Japanese | スイッチグラス |
| Dutch | vingergras |
| Polish | proso rózgowe |
| Russian | Просо прутьевидное |
| Slovenian | trajno proso |
| Swedish | rödhirs |
| Turkish | dallı darı |
| Chinese | 柳枝稷 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China North-central
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- India
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Indian Subcontinent
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Europe click to expand
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
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Northern Europe
- Great Britain
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Middle Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Québec
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Northwest
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
- Montana
- Wyoming
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South-central U.S.A.
- New Mexico
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District Of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- Arizona
- Nevada
- Utah
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Western Canada
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
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Pacific click to expand
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North-central Pacific
- Hawaii
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North-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
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Caribbean
- Bermuda
- Cuba
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Central America
- Belize
- Honduras
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000886863 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 3532 |
| Flora of Alabama | 4964 |
| Canadensys | 7813 |
| USDA Plants | PAVI2 |
| Tropicos | 25509822 |
| INPN | 112259 |
| Flora of Italy | 9624 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:413537-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-430831 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 285211 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 205619 |
| Observations.org | 150023 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 38727 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0200002787 |
| Nature Serve | 2.151015 |
| IPNI | 413537-1 |
| iNaturalist | 125727 |
| GBIF | 2705081 |
| Freebase | /m/03mt59 |
| WisFlora | 4413 |
| FEIS | plants/graminoid/panvir |
| EPPO | PANVI |
| EOL | 1114474 |
| Elurikkus | 6091 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 10655 |
| US Library of Congress | sh2008001455 |
| USDA GRIN | 26657 |
| Wikipedia | Panicum_virgatum |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCF_016808335.1 | P.virgatum_v5 | Chromosome | DOE Joint Genome Institute | 2021-02-10 | 121.66 | 1.05 Gb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| (5S)-5-hydroxytritriacontane-12,14-dione | 162978725 | Click to see | 508.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(80)85122-3 |
| 5-Hydroxytritriacontane-12,14-dione | 85849085 | Click to see | 508.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(80)85122-3 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds / Beta-diketones | |||||
| Tritriacontane-12,14-dione | 71373292 | Click to see | 492.90 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(80)85122-3 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |