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Dichanthelium acuminatum var. lindheimeri

Dichanthelium acuminatum (Sw.) Gould & C.A. Clark var. lindheimeri (Nash) Gould & C.A. Clark

Lindheimer Panicgrass, Lindheimer's Rosettegrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Dichanthelium lanuginosum var. lindheimeri, Dichanthelium lindheimeri, Panicum acuminatum var. lindheimeri, Panicum lanuginosum var. lindheimeri, Panicum lanuginosum var. septentrionale, Panicum lindheimeri

USDA Symbol: DIACL

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Culms: Slender, 30-90 cm. tall. Branch to form dense fascicles of reduced, leafy branchlets, these bearing few-flowered inflorescences. Blades: Bright green. Spikelets: Elliptic or somewhat obovate.

This variety is named after Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer (1801-1879) who is often called the Father of Texas Botany because of his work as the first permanent-resident plant collector in Texas. In 1834 Lindheimer immigrated to the United States as a political refugee. He spent from 1843-1852 collecting specimens in Texas. In 1844 he settled in New Braunfels, Texas, and was granted land on the banks of the Comal River, where he continued his plant collecting and attempted to establish a botanical garden. He shared his findings with many others who shared his interest in botany, including Ferdinand von Roemer and Adolph Scheele. Lindheimer is credited with the discovery of several hundred plant species. In addition his name is used to designate forty-eight species and subspecies of plants. He is buried in New Braunfels. His house, on Comal Street in New Braunfels, is now a museum.