GENUS 17. 



GRASS FAMILY. 



'39 



5. Panicum capillare L. Witch-grass. 

 Tumble-weed. Fig. 315. 



Panicum capillare L. Sp. PI. 58. 1753. 



Culms erect or ascending, i-2 tall, simple or 

 sometimes sparingly branched. Sheaths papillose- 

 hispid; blades 6'-i long, 3 "-8" wide, more or less 

 pubescent ; terminal panicle generally 8'- 14' long, 

 lower branches at first included in the upper sheath, 

 finally exserted and spreading, 6'-io' long; lateral 

 panicles, when present, smaller; spikelets i"-ii" 

 long, acute; first scale one-fourth to one-half as long 

 as the spikelet; second and third scales nearly equal, 

 exceeding the fourth. 



In dry soil, common as a weed in cultivated fields, 

 Nova Scotia to North Dakota, south to Florida and 

 Texas. Also in Bermuda. Old-witch-grass. Tickle- 

 grass. Fool-hay. July-Sept. 



6. Panicum barbipulvinatum Nash. 

 Barbed Witch-grass. Fig. 316. 



Panicum barbipulvinatum Nash; Rydb. 'Mem. N. Y. 

 Bot. Card, i : 21. 1900. 



Annual. Culms S'-iS' tall, smooth and gla- 

 brous ; sheaths papillose-hispid with spreading 

 hairs ; blades up to 5' long, 2"-$" wide, lanceo- 

 late, hirsute; panicle occupying usually more 

 than \ of the plant, much-exserted, broader than 

 long, its branches widely spreading or the lower 

 ones reflexed, the pulvinus in the axils well- 

 developed and strongly hirsute; spikelets ii"-i|" 

 long, acuminate, glabrous, the scales acuminate, 

 the first i as long as the second which is longer 

 than the third, the fruiting scale i as long as the 

 spikelet. 



In dry places, Wisconsin to British Columbia, Ne- 

 braska, Texas and California. Aug. and Sept. 



7. Panicum Gattingeri Nash. Gattinger's Witch- 

 grass. Fig. 317. 



Panicum capillare var. campestre Gattinger, Tenn. Fl. 94. 



1887. Not P. campestre Nees. 1826. 

 Panicum capillare Gattingeri Nash, in Britt. & Br. 111. Fl. 



i : 123. 1896. 

 Panicum Gattingeri Nash, in Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 92. 1903. 



Annual. Culms slender, hispid, finally branched at all 

 of the nodes and the branches again dividing, often 

 prostrate at the base, i-2 long, or rarely depauperate 

 and but a few inches high ; sheaths papillose-hirsute ; 

 blades 6' long or less, 2" -3" wide, pubescent to nearly 

 glabrous, erect ; primary panicle 4' -6' long, its branches 

 ascending, the larger ones usually 2'-3' long, the lateral 

 panicles smaller; spikelets about i" long, elliptic, acute, 

 glabrous. 



In poor, often moist soil, Maine to North Carolina, Iowa 

 and Missouri. Aug.-Oct. Illustrated for P. capillare L. in 

 the first edition. 



