HITCHCOCK AND CHASE—NORTH AMERICAN PANICUM. 181 
Spikelets 2.2 mm. or more long, pointed; 
sheaths bearing pale glandular 
spots... .........00.22222------ 111. P. yadkinense. 
Spikelets not over 2 mm. long, not 
pointed. 
Autumnal form erect, branched 
like a little tree; primary 
blades rarely over 5mm. wide; 
second glume shorter than 
fruit and sterile lemma...... 109. P. dichotomum. 
Autumnal form topheavy-reclining; 
primary blades 6 to 10 mm. 
wide; second glume equaling 
fruit and sterile lemma...... 110. PP. barbulatum. 
102. Panicum microcarpon Muhl. 
Panicum microcarpon Muhl.; Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1: 127, 1816. No locality is 
cited. The type, in the Elliott Herbarium, consists of a single culm, lacking the 
base, with five leaves and an immature panicle, slightly included at the base. The 
accompanying label reads: ‘‘Panicum microcarpon. barbulat: var.? Hab. Georg: 
Dr. Baldwin.’’ As shown by his description and the above-mentioned type, Elliott 
misunderstood Muhlenberg’s application of this name and attached it to a different 
species, though giving Muhlenberg as author. Muhlenberg’s later publication of the 
name @ for a different species ® is thus invalidated. 
Panicum nitidum ramulosum Torr. Fl. North. & Mid. U.S. 146. 1824. ‘‘Near 
Quaker-Bridge, New-Jersey.’’ The type, in the Torrey Herbarium, is a sparingly 
branched, vernal culm, with nearly mature terminal panicle. The label reads: 
“Panicum nitidum # var. [9 is ramulosum] collected in swamps in the pine barrens 
of New Jersey, near Quaker Bridge, June, 1818.”’ 
?Panicum nitidum barbatum Torr. Fl. North. & Mid. U. 8. 146. 1824. “In 
woods and meadows.”’ The type could not be found in the Torrey Herbarium. The 
description seems to apply to the vernal form of P. mierocarpon, or possibly to P. 
barbulatum. 
This species is the one described by Muhlenberg ¢ under the name of P. discolor 
Spreng., as shown by a specimen so labeled in the Muhlenberg Herbarium. Panicum 
heterophyllum Schreb. is here cited as a synonym, erroneously, as Schreber did not 
publish this name. J’. heterophyllum Muhl.@ is a nomen nudum. 
Panicum microcarpon Muhl. is the species described as P. barbulatum by American 
authors, which proves to be not P. barbulatum Michx. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Vernal form cespitose; culms erect, or sometimes geniculate at base, 30 or usually 
60 to 100 em. high, the nodes densely bearded with reflexed hairs; sheaths glabrous, 
or the lowermost pubescent, often mottled with white spots between the nerves, 
ciliate on the margin; blades thin, spreading, the upper often reflexed, 10 to 12 cm. 
long, 8 to 15 mm. wide, narrowed toward the base, glabrous, more or less papillose- 
ciliate at base; panicles finally long-exserted, many-flowered, ovate in outline, 8 to 
12 cm. long, the branches ascending; spikelets 1.6 mm. long, 0.7 mm. wide, elliptic, 
@ Descr. Gram, 111. 1817. 
5 See P. microcarpon Muhl. under P. polyanthes, page 255. 
¢ Descr. Gram. 114, 1817. 
4 Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 3:160. 1793. 
