# beaked panicum (*Coleataenia anceps*)

Beaked panicum is a tall grass that grows in fields and along roadsides. It has long, slender leaves and fluffy seed heads that dance in the wind, making it a beautiful sight in nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![beaked panicum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Panicum_anceps.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Melinda Brakie, USDA NRCS East Texas Plant Materials Center, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panicum_anceps.jpg)

## Appearance

The beaked panicum is a clumping grass with broad, green leaves, often tinged purple as fall approaches. Its distinguishing feature is its airy, branching seed head, which holds tiny, pointed (beaked) seeds that give it its name.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Coleataenia

## Interesting facts

- Its strong roots help hold soil in place, preventing it from washing away during heavy rain.
- The 'beaked' part of its name comes from the pointy tip on each tiny seed.
- This grass makes crunchy seeds that many small birds absolutely love to eat!
- You might find this adaptable grass growing in both sunny fields and shady forest edges!

## Special abilities

- **Root Runner:** Beaked panicum has tough underground stems (rhizomes) that help it spread and quickly colonize new areas, securing its spot.
- **Beaked Seeds:** It produces abundant, tiny seeds with a unique 'beak,' allowing them to be easily dispersed by wind and animals for new plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-180 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Grazes on its leaves and stems.
- **Eats:** [Song Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/song-sparrow) (*Melospiza melodia*) — Feeds on its small, nutritious seeds.
- **Eats:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Waterfowl consume its seeds, especially near wetlands.
- **Eats:** [American Bird Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bird-grasshopper) (*Schistocerca americana*) — Chews on its leaves and tender shoots.

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths when exploring fields and don't touch plants without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify beaked panicum?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is beaked panicum?

60-180 cm

### How wide does beaked panicum spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on beaked panicum?

0.1-0.3 cm

### When does beaked panicum bloom?

Late summer to fall

### Is beaked panicum edible?

No

### Is beaked panicum toxic?

None

### What is beaked panicum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Beaked Panicum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/beaked-panicum)