I 



I 



Typp collet-ted by F. W. Thnrow, Waller County, Texas, May 2."), 189s. Closely 

 related to J\inicum angiisffoliinn Ell., from which it is distingiiished by its 

 much smaller and minutely pubescent spikelets and the smooth sheaths and 

 leaves. 



]. PANICUM INFLATUM Scribn. & Smith, sp. nov. 



An erect or ascending, much-branched perennial, 2.5-4 dm. high, often rooting 

 at the lower nodes, with glabrous culms, pubescent nodes, loose or inflated 

 sheaths, lanceolate, spreading, obtuse leaves 5-7 cm. long, and ovate-pyram- 

 idal, exserted, rather densely flowered panicles 6-7 cm. long. Sheaths 

 longer than the inteniodes, ciliate-piibescent along the margins and tuber- 

 culate-dotted between the strijie; leaf -blades 8-10 mm. wide, abruptly 

 rounded at the base, very smooth on the back, scabrous on the margins and 

 along the nerves above. Axis of the panicle slender and the flexuous branches 

 sparingly glandular viscid. Spikelets 1.8 mm. long, broadly obovate, or 

 nearly spherical. First empty glume ovate, obtuse, less than one-fourth the 

 length of the sinkelet ; second and third empty glumes orbicular, obovate, 

 obscurely 5-7-nerved, the second a little shorter than the bro.adly ovate, 

 obtuse, flowering glume, which is equaled by the third : the culms, sheaths, 

 and empty glumes are purple. 



Type No. 4(522, S. M. Tracy, collected at Biloxi, Miss., October, 1898. Closely 

 related to Panicum Undheimeri Nash and resembling it in both the fonn of 

 the panicle and the spikelets, but readily distinguished by its tuberculate, 

 inflated .sheaths, glandular panicle- branches, and obtuse leaves. 



8. PANICUM THUROWII Scribn. & Smith, .sp. nov. 



A rather stout, erect or ascending, pubescent or villous, .simple or sparingly 

 branched perennial, 8-4 dm. high, with 5-6 densely white-bearded nodes, 

 sparingly villous sheaths, lanceolate-linear leaves 7-10 cm. long, and ovate- 

 pyramidal, shortly exserted panicles, 7-8 cm. long. Sheaths shorter than 

 the villous internodes, striate and tuberculate above between the stria'; 

 ligule a ring of stiff, white hairs 3-4 mm. long; leaf -blades flat, 7-10 mm. 

 wide, softly pubescent on the lower surface, glabrous above, unu.sually 

 ciliate on the scabrous margins toward the ba.se. There is a very densely 

 villous line on the back where the blade joins the sheath. Axis of the pan- 

 icle sparingly pilose ; the branches subflexuous, villous at the base. Spike- 

 lets narrowly elliptical, obtuse, 1.5-2 nmi. long. First glume one-fifth the 

 length of the 7-nerved, puliescent and obtuse second and third .glumes which 

 are .slightly .shorter than the lanceolate-elliptical, acute floral glume. 



This species is named for Mr. F. W. Thurow, by whom it was collected in Wal- 

 ler County, Texas, June 5, 1898, No. 9. No. 11 collected May 10 is the same 

 species. 



Very closely related to Panicum inibescens Lam., differing in its more densely 

 flowered, narrower panicles, smoother spikelets and simple culms. The 

 leaves and spikelets are purplish. 



Also collected by H. W. Ravenel, Houston, Texas, 1869. 



9. PANICUM OCTONODUM Scribn. & Smith, sp. nov. 



A slender, ascending, unbranched, glabrous perennial 4-6 dm. high, with 8 or 9 

 brownish, smooth nodes, rigid, linear, acuminate, ascending or spreading, 

 flat leaves, 5-10 cm. long, and exserted, rather densely flowered, narrowly 

 pyramidal panicles 5-12 cm. long. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, 

 sparingly ciliate on the overlapping margin above; ligule a dense fringe of 

 white hairs, about 1 mm. long; leaf blades 4-7 mm. wide, obscurely 9-nerved 

 below, scabrous on the margins, acute. Axis of the panicle smooth, 



