IIO Rhodora [Mav 
ing or erect, and finally much branched perennial 9-12 dm. high, 
with usually very rough hispid sheaths and broad leaves. Culms 
glabrous, at first simple, becoming much branched later in the season; 
nodes smooth. Sheaths shorter than, or often exceeding the inter- 
nodes, much crowded on the branches, rough tuberculate-hispid, 
rather soft pubescent, or sometimes nearly smooth, ciliate-pubescent 
on the margins: ligule very short; leaf-blades broadly lanceolate, 
8—20 cm. long, 15-30 mm. wide, cordate-clasping at the base, acum- 
inate, usually smooth on both sides or the lower ones sometimes 
somewhat pubescent beneath, serrulate scabrous on the cartilaginous 
margins and often ciliate near the base. Panicle diffuse, that of the 
primary stem 8-15 cm. long and finally exserted, those of the branch- 
es partly or wholly concealed within the leaf sheaths; rachis striate, 
slightly scabrous; branches decompound to the base, alternate, 
scabrous as are also the pedicels which for the most part are longer 
than the spikelets. Spikelets obovate, elliptical, 2.5-3 mm. long, 
smooth or thinly pilose; first glume about one-half as long as the 
nearly equal nine-nerved second and third glumes, the latter with a 
palea in its axil; flowering glume minutely pubescent at the apex, 
otherwise smooth. Leaves on the branches shorter and more crowd- 
ed and the sheaths more rough hairy than on the primary stem. 
The primary, terminal exserted panicle disappears after the develop- 
ment of the lateral branches. 
General distribution: Along banks of streams and rivers and in 
low thickets, Quebec to Michigan, south to Georgia, Missouri, and 
Texas. Mayto September. 
MaiNE: Foxcroft, gravelly thicket, 292 M. Z. Fernald, July 17, 
1895; and 518 M. L. Fernald, July 29, 1894; Gilead, thickets, Kaze 
Furbish, July, 1897 ; Livermore Falls, Kate Furbish (no date); Farm- 
ington, C. ZZ. Knowlton (no date) ; Eddington, river thicket, M. Z. Fer- 
nald, Sept. 16, 1897 ; Rumford, 7. C. Parlin, Aug. 1889 ; Mattawam- 
keag, river thicket, 2814 M. L. Fernald, Sept. 14, 1898; Harrison, J. 
Blake, Sept. 1869, New HaMrsHIRE: East Jaffrey, roadsides, 335, 
B. L. Robinson, July 19, 1897; Lebanon, G. G. Kennedy, June 27, 
1896 ; Shelburne, W. Deane, Aug. 31,1884. VERMONT: Brattleboro, 
86 B. L. Robinson, Aug. 2, 1898. Massacuusetts: Cotuit, W. P. Rich, 
July 18, 1890; Border of Saugus River, W. P. Rich, Aug. 4, 1889; 
Milton, border of Neponset River, 7. R. Churchill, Aug. 23, 1885 ; 
Montague, J. R. Churchill, July 28, 1887 ; Hyannis, /. R. Churchill, 
July 4, 1886; Cambridge, Æ. Mann (no date); Ashland, W. Deane, 
July 3, 1884; Framingham, Æ. C. Smith, July, 1897 ; South Fram- 
ingham, Æ. Z. Sturtevant, July 6, 1890; Nonquit, E. Z. Sturtevant, 
July 12, 1888 and July 5, 1889; Wilmington, F. S. Collins, June 25, 
1887 ; Lowell, C. W. Swan, June 19, 1882 and Aug. 3, 1880; Wat- 
ertown, C. IW. Swan July 20, 1888; East Gloucester, Niles Farm, 
C. W. Swan, Aug. 12, 1882. Ruopr Istanp: East Providence, 
