142 TRIANDRIA. DIGYNIA. panjoum. 



spikelets ovate, smooth ; abortive floret 2-valved ; superior 

 valve half the length of the inferior. 



Root perennial. Culm 3—4 feet high, erect, terete, much 

 branched above. Leaves 6 inches long, and about 3-fourths 

 of an inch broad, tapering to a sharp point, very scabrous on 

 the margin. Sheaths hispid, as in P. clandestinnm. Stifiule 0. 

 Panicle terminal, on a peduncle 4 — 6 inches long, spreading; 

 branches geminate, virgate ; branchlets 1 -flowered. S/iikelets 

 ovatCv obtuse. Inferior valve of the calyx obtuse or emargin- 

 ate, appressed ; superior valve with 7 prominent nerves. JVeu- 

 tral Jioret with the superior valve obtuse and entire. Valves 

 of the perfect Jioret shining. Stamens 3. Styles 2 ; stigmas 

 purple. 



Hab. In moist shady places, borders of woods, 8cc. On the 

 Island of New-York. July. 



5. P. laiifolium L.: culm generally simple, bearded at 

 the joints ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, smooth, or, v^ith the 

 sheaths, somewhat pubescent; panicle terminal, a little ex- 

 sert, simple, pubescent ; spikelets oblong-ovate ; abortive 

 floret antheriferous, 2-valved ; superior valve subherbaceous, 

 nearly as long as the inferior, acute. Bp, pi. 86. Willd. 

 Spec. I. p. 350, Mich. Ft. I. p. 49. Big. Bost. p. 20. 

 Pnrsh Fl. I. p. 68. M u h I. Gram. p. 1 09. Elliott 

 Sk. I. p. 119. Walt. Car. p. 73. R o erti. 6/ S c hul t. 

 II. p. 440. P. virginianum lato breviqiie folio, &;c. Mo ris. 

 Hist. III. p. 196. §. 8, t. 5. f. 4. P. M^alteri Poir. Enc. 

 Supp. IV. p. 282. R, ^ S. 11. p. 883. 



Root perennial, fibrous. Culm about a foot high, simple, (or 

 branched Muhl.) Leaves 3 — 4 inches long, 1 inch broad, 

 cordate and clasping at the base, generally smooth, spreading. 

 Sheaths half the length of the joints, ciliate along the margin, 

 sometimes pubescent. Panicle about 2 inches long, seldom 

 more than about 15-flowered; branches downy-pubescent, a 

 little divided. Spikelets rather more than a line in length, 

 pubescent. Inferiorg-Zwrne ovate, loose ; superior valve strongly 

 nerved. Abortive floret with 3 perfect stamens. Perfect floret 

 acute. Stainens 3. Seed white. 



Hab. In woods and shady thickets. June — July. 



6. P. scoparium Lam.: whole plant softly villous; 

 leaves lanceolate ; panicle erect, compound, setaceous, much 

 branched ; spikelets turgid, ovate, pubeacent. Lam. Enc. 

 IV. p. 744. Mich. Fl. I. p. 49. Pursh Fl. I. p. 68. 

 Elliott Sk. ]. ■p. l\9. Muhl. Gram. \).\0'}. Roem. 

 &; Schult. II. p. 444. 



Root perennial. Culm erect, about 2 feet high, sometimes 

 branched, terete, almost hispid. Leaves 3 — 6 inches long, an 

 inch or an inch and a half broad, serrulate, slightly waved, 



