120 Rhodora [May 
stout, simple or becoming somewhat branched ; nodes smooth, or 
the lower ones very slightly bearded; sheaths rather loose, minutely 
pubescent at the apex, usually more or less ciliate on the margin, the 
basal ones somewhat pubescent ; ligule a dense ring of hairs about 
0.3 mm. long; leaf-blades firm, smooth on both surfaces, serrulate- 
scabrous on the margins, 7-14 cm. long, 7-12 mm. wide, the basal 
ones much shorter.  Panicle-purplish, its ascending branches smooth. 
Spikelets ovate, acute, about 2.3 mm. long; first glume broadly ovate, 
obtuse or acute, 1-nerved, glabrous or nearly so; second and third 
glumes finely and sparingly pubescent with short hairs, g-nerved ; 
flowering glume ovate, about 2 mm. long. 
General distribution: In dry, sandy soil, Massachusetts, New 
Jersey, July to August. 
MassAcHUsETTS: Nantucket, /. Æ. Churchill, July 6, 1886, also C. 
W. Swan, July, 1886; West Falmouth, 7. A. Churchill, June 28, 1894 
(not typical). 
This very distinct species was described from specimens collected 
in New Jersey, ‘The above are the only localities known for this 
species outside of the states of Delaware and New Jersey. 
X X Spikelets spherical; ligule obsolete. 
29. PANICUM SPHAEROCARPON Ell. Sk. Bot. S. C. and Ga. r: 
125. 1817. (P. microcarpon sphaerocarpon Beal, Grasses N. A. 2: 
137. 1896).—A tufted, erect, or ascending, rather rigid perennial 
2—6 dm. high, with firm, erect, leaves and diffuse, many-flowered 
panicles. Culms simple or finally much branched near the base, 
smooth ; nodes generally bearded with short, ascending hairs, rarely 
smooth ; sheaths usually shorter than the internodes, sometimes ex- 
ceeding them, glabrous except on the ciliate margin ; ligule obsolete ; 
leaf-blades 5-10 cm. long; 5-15 mm. wide, cordate-clasping at the 
base, very acute, glabrous beneath, scabrous above and on the car- 
tilaginous margins which are usually sparingly ciliate below; basal 
leaves broadly ovate, 1-3 cm. long, many-nerved. Panicle ovoid or 
pyramidal, 5 to 8 or rarely ro cm. long; branches slender, compound 
to the base; pedicels usually much exceeding the spikelets. Spike- 
lets nearly spherical, purplish, 1.5 to 1.8 mm. long; first glume 
minute; second and third glumes 7 to g-nerved, minutely pubescent ; 
flowering glume very smooth, obtuse. 
General distribution: dry soil, Massachusetts to Southern Ontario 
and Illinois, south to Florida, Mississippi, and Texas (Mexico). 
April to October. 
MassacHusETTS: Framingham, Æ. Z. Sturtevant, July 6, 1890. 
E. C. Smith, June 21, 1892 and Sept. 1897, also 748, Æ. C. Smith, July 
21, 1899; Medford, wet border of South Reservoir, 342, W. P. 
Rich, July 7, 1894, 386 N. E. Bot. Club, July 23, 1894; Stoneham, 
wet border, north end of South Reservoir, 343 W. P. Rich, July 7, 
1894; Sharon, W. P. Rich, July 12, 1896; Woburn, gravel pit, Z. 
