Scientific Name: PANICUM OBTUSUM
Common Name: VINE-MESQUITE
Erosion Index: EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value: 10
Wildlife Index: GOOD
Wildlife Index Value: 6.41
Ecological Distribution: GULF PRAIRIES AND MARSHES, POST OAK SAVANNAH, BLACKLAND PRAIRIES, CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS, EDWARDS PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance: BOTTOMLAND, WETLAND
Elevation Tolerance: TOLERANT OVER WIDE ELEVATION RANGE
Slope Tolerance: TOLERANT OVER WIDE SLOPE RANGE
Aspect Tolerance: TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance: TOLERANT TO FULL SUN, TOLERANT TO SUN-SHADE MIX
Wetland Regional Indicator: FACULTATIVE
Physical Form: GRASS
Habit:  
Life Cycle: PERENNIAL
Seed Age: 1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval: 1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth: RAPID GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, DENSE STAND-FORMING, TUFTED BUNCHGRASS, SOD-FORMING, CLOSE GROUND COVER, SHALLOW ROOTED
Hardiness: GRAZING TOLERANT, FIRE TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period: APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP
Flowering Period: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Fruiting Period: JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Soil Moisture: WIDE PERMEABILITY AND SATURATION RANGE
Soil Texture: TOLERANT TO CLAYEY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS
Soil Fertility: HIGH SOIL FERTILITY
Parent Material: TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH: SLIGHTLY ACIDIC
Optimum pH: UNKNOWN
Soil Depth: MODERATELY DEEP SOIL (12 - 36 IN.)
Salinity: OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Short-term Pest: LOW
Long-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Long-term Pest: LOW
Dominance Characteristics: COMPONENT
Honeybee Relations: POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential: UNKNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock: LARGE MAMMALS, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, NONGAME BIRDS
Small Mammal Food: FAIR
Large Mammal Food: GOOD
Upland Game Birds Food: EXCELLENT
Waterfowl Food: FAIR
Nongame Birds Food: EXCELLENT
Small Mammal Cover: GOOD
Large Mammal Cover: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover: FAIR
Waterfowl Cover: FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover: FAIR
Toxicity Potential: NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:  
Effectiveness Period: SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact: HIGH
Erosion Hardiness: HIGH
Ease of Propagation: HIGH
Soil Binding: HIGH
Soil Enrichment Potential: UNKNOWN
Nitrogen Fixation Potential: LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production: UNKNOWN
Source Availability: UNKNOWN
Seed Germination Ratio: LOW
Reproduction: SEEDS, STOLONS, RHIZOMES, TILLERS
Seed Dispersal Success Potential: GRAVITY
Seed Establishment Success Potential: HIGH
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential: LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Establishment Time Interval: 2 TO 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment: SEEDS
Relative Expense: INEXPENSIVE
Notes: - Forms a dense mat of long, tough stolons (runners) that may grow several feet; thus, an excellent erosion control grass in waterways and for stream bank erosion. - Can be established from seed or sod.

Associated Species:

AGRAITO BEAKED PANICUM
COMMON REED GUM BUMELIA
JUNIPER SPP. LOTEBUSH
OAK, ESCARPMENT LIVE PASPALUM, BROWNSEED
PASPALUM, FLORIDA PRAIRIE CORDGRASS
PURPLETOP SWAMP SMARTWEED
SWITCHGRASS VIRGINIA WILDRYE