505 
divergent subdivisions: spikelets 2 to 3 mm, long, acute; outer glume acute, one- 
half as long as the second and third; these acuminate, slightly exceeding the obtuse 
floret.—Southern Texas. 
25, P. repens L. Culms 4 to 6 dm. high, rigid, terete, erect or ascending from 
a strong creeping base: leaves narrow, involute, divaricate: panicle rather cymose 
spreading, 1 dm. long or less; branches ascending, rather sparsely flowered, the 
lower ones nearly as long as the panicle and usually subdivided: spikelets turgid, 
2to 3mm. long; first glume rounded, one-fourth as long as the second and third; 
these acuminate, slightly exceeding the obtuse or subacute floret.—Moist soil, 
eastern Texas and along the Gulf coast to Florida. Var. CONrFERTUM Vasey has 
short culms, panicle condensed with short branches and crowded spikelets, and 
lower glume longer and more acute. 
§ 7. Branches of thé panicle subdivided, spreading, naked below; spikelets solitary, pedi- 
\ 1 I; 7 8) Ys 2 
celled, —EUPANICUM. 
* Spikelets turgid, obtuse ov subacute: usually with a rosette of broad short leaves at the 
base of the culm.! 
+ Upper leaves narrowly lanceolate or linear: panicle less than 1 dm, long, except in some 
Jorms of No. 27. 
++ Spikelets more than 2 mm. long: rosette of broader basal leaves inconspicuous. 
= Leaves linear, subinvolute, rather rigid and erect. 
26. P. depauperatum Muhl. Culms 2 to 3 dm. high, slender, in small tufts from 
perennial rootstocks: leaves most]y from near the base, slender, often pubescent on 
the sheaths or throughout: panicle oblong, rather loosely few-flowered, usually with 
some small panicles half concealed among the leaves: spikelets 3mm. long; first 
glume less than one-fourth as long as the prominenfly nerved second and third.— 
Prairies throughout Texas and northward. 
27. P. neuranthum Griseb. Culms 3 to 5 dm. high, slender, branching, leafy to 
the middle or above: leaves flat or subinvolute 4 to 8 em. long: terminal panicle 
usually long exserted, 4 to 8em. long, with divergent, few-flowered branches; lateral 
panicles numerous among the leaves: spikelets 2 to 3 mm. long, oval or obovate, 
finely pubescent; first glume deltoid, acute, one-fourth as long as the second and 
third; these nearly equal, prominently 7 to 9-nerved, slightly exeeeding the smooth 
oval floret.—Ravines and river banks, eastern Texas to Florida. Var. RAMOSUM 
Griseb. is much branched, with numerous very slender involute leaves and generally 
sinaller spikelets.—Possibly only an autumnal form of the species. 
28. P. sparsiflorum Vasey. Culms 3 to 6 dm. high, slender, branching below: 
leaves slender often filiform-involute, 5 to 15 em, long: terminal panicle 5 to 10 cm. 
long, very open; branches 3 to 5, slender, ascending or horizontal, bearing few short- 
pedicelled spikelets often in pairs near the extremities: spikelets 3 to 4 mm. long, 
elliptical, hispid-pubescent, bluish-green; first glume acute, deciduous, one-half as 
long as the acute second and third.—Low land, near the coast. 
= = Leaves flat, narrowly lanceolate, spreading or divaricate. 
29. P. pedicellatem Vasey. Culms 3 to 5 dm. high, branching below, leafy to the 
middle or above: leaves thin, often ciliate at the base, 4 to 8 em. long: panicle 3 to 
6 em. long; branches 3 to 5, spreading, bearing few scattered spikelets mostly on 
long pedicels: spikelets 3 mm. long, nearly smooth, narrowly obovate; first empty 
glume narrow, one-half as long as the spikelet; second glume slightly shorter than 
the third, both obtuse, 7-nerved, barely equaling the smooth floret.—Rocky woods 
and ravines, east of the Pecos River. 
' Nearly all the species of this group have a peculiar autumnal habit, sending out 
from the base or lower nodes low much-branched culms with numerous narrow 
leaves and small subvaginate panicles, a character that causes much confusion, but 
seems to be of very little value in determining species. 
