DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES. 



31 



c ^• 



segment tapering to the apex, the aborted floret usually minute, but sometimes con- 

 spicuous and nearly equal to the rachilla segment; grain about 2 mm. long, robust, 

 light brown, slightly keeled and grooved, semitranslucent. (Fig. 13.) 



This is a European species not found in the American market. 



Panicularia spp. 



Ov/ing- to the fact that Panicularia nervata is sometimes sold as fowl 

 meadow grass, a description of its seed is presented. A description 

 of the closely allied P. amerlcana^ which is often associated with 

 1*. nervata^ is added as an aid in comparing the two species. 



Panicularia nervata (Willd.) Kuntze. 



NERVED MANN.A. GRASS, SOMETIMES CALLED FOWL MEADOW GRASS. 



Florets 1-1 i mm. long, robust, ovate (obovate with reference to the plant), light 

 brown, purplish and sometimes greenish when immature; glume rounded at the 

 back, prominently seven-veined, its margins 

 somewhat infolded at the base and not flaring at 

 the apex, which is sometimes narrow!}^ hyaline; 

 surface smootli, except the veins, which are 

 sometimes scabrous; palea equal to or sometimes 

 longer than the glume, broad, the keels exposed, 

 prominent and nearly meeting at the rounded 



and sometimes slightlv notched apex, usually F'^. 14.— Seeds of nerved manna grass 

 scabrous above the middle; rachilla segment one- (P^^nicnlaria ncrvaiay. aand 6, back and 

 fifth to one-fourth the length of the glume, sub- 

 cylindrical and scarcely expanded at the apex, the terminal one somewhat longer 

 , than the others and tipped by a minute, al)orted floret; grain loosely held by the 

 stiffish glume and palea, obovate, slightly flattened, f-1 mm. long, smooth, some- 

 what polished, very dark brown or black, sometimes slightly translucent. (Fig. 14. ) 



Panicularia americaiui (Torr. ) MacM. 



REED MEADOW GRASS, WATER MEADOW GRASS, TALL MANNA GRASS. 



Florets S-Si mm. long, elliptical-oblong as viewed from the front or back, some- 

 what spindle-shaped as viewed from the side, obtuse at the apex, brown, or purplish 



before complete maturi- 

 ty ; glume rounded at the 

 back, distinctly seven- 

 veined, its margins nar- 

 rowly infolded at the 

 base and not flaring at 

 the apex ; surface smooth 

 between the scabrous 

 veins; palea equal to the 

 glume, concave, its keels 

 exposed, nearly meeting 

 at the apex, very finely 

 hispid-ciliate; rachilla 

 segment one-fifth to one-fourth the length of the glume, subcylindrical, somewhat 

 expanded at the apex, that of the terminal floret slightly longer and tipped by a 

 minute, aborted floret; grain broadly oblong, U-2 mm. long, somewhat flattened, 

 very dark brown, slightly translucent, smooth, and somewhat polished when fully 

 developed. (Fig. 15.) 



Fig. 15. — Seeds of water meadow grass {Panicularia americana): a, b. 

 and c, back, side, and front views of seeds: d, grain. 



