This species is readily distinguished from Panicum pauciflorum Ell., and P. 

 scrUmerianum Nash, to which it is most closely related, by its much broader 

 pubescent leaves and larger spikelets. Of the specimens cited above, S. M. 

 Bain, 1898; Steele, 1899; 2994a Biltmore Herbarium, and the specimens from 

 Ravenel have been carefully compared with Elliott's type. 



Panicum pauciflorum Ell. Sk. 1 : 120. A distinct species, related to Panicum. 

 scrilmerianiini Nash. The same as the specimen in the Herbarium of 

 Columbia University, so labeled by Elliott = Pa?w'ciMu oligosanthes Schialtes. 



Panicum virgatum Linn. ; Ell. Sk. 1 ; 120. 



Panicum amarum Ell. Sk 1 : 121. The specimen in the Herbarium of Elliott 



under this name is a robust 



form of Panicum virgatum 



Linn. From Elliott's descrip- 

 tion, however, it is very evident 



what plant he had in mind. The 



true Panicum amarum Ell., is 



represented by the following 



specimens in the U. S. National 



Herbarium. Virginia: Ocean 



View, Geo. Vasey, August 5, 



1890; Virginia Beach 2063, 2064 



T. H. Kearney, jr., October 6, 



1898; 3090, T. A. Williams, Sep- 

 tember 24, 1900. Florida: Key 



Largo, A. H. Curtiss, November 



7, 1894 ; Lake Worth Inlet, 5527, 



A. H. Curtiss, September 2, 



1895; Indian River, 3578 Cur- 

 tiss; Cape Malabar, Curtiss, 



September, 1879. The small 



form which was called Panicum 



amarum minor Yasey & Scribn. 



U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Bot. Bui. 



8 : 38. 1889, is here proposed as 



the following species. 

 PANICUM AMAROIDES Scribn. 



& Merrill sp. nov. {Panicum 



amarttvi minor Vasey & Scribn. 



U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Bot. Bui. 



8:38. 1889, not P. capillare 



minor Muhl. 1817.) (Fig. 1.) A 



glabrous, glaucous, non-caespi- 



tose perennial, 3 to 8 dm. high 



from horizontal root-stocks, 



with thick, often involute 



leaves and narrow, contracted 



panicles. Culms erect, or ascending, often somewhat branched below, stout, 

 the lower internodes very short; nodes smooth; sheaths loose, glabrous, 



crowded, and overlapping ; ligule a dense fringe of soft white hairs 2 to 3 



mm. long; leaf -blades very thick, smooth, lanceolate, acuminate, not nar. 



rowed at the rounded base, 1 to 3 dm. long, 5 to 10 mm. wide, strongly invo- 

 lute at least above. Panicles 1 to 2.5 dm. long, few flowered, narrow, the 

 branches appressed 1 to 7 cm. long. Spikelets glabrous ovate acuminate 5 

 to 6 mm. long ; first glume clasping the base of the spikelet, strongly nerved 



Fig. \.— Panicum amaroides Scribn. & Merrill, a, 

 shows habit of the plant; c, a spikelet somewhat 

 enlarged; rt, the perfect floret showing the flower- 

 ing-glume, palea, stamens, and stigmas; e, ante- 

 rior view of the same with the palea closed; h, a 

 portion of panicle of P. amarum Ell. 



