570 GRAMLXEiE. (GRASS FAMILY.) 



lindrical (2' -4' long), somewhat interrupted at the base ; glumes short-pointed, 

 rather narrowly keeled, J longer than the ovate hairy flower. — South Carolina, 

 and westward. (I) — Leaves not glaucous, 4'- 10' long. 



47. PASPALUM, L. 



Spikelcts spiked or somewhat raccmed, apparently 1 -flowered, awnless, homo 

 in 1-4 rows on one side of the flattened or triangular jointlcss rachis. Glumes 

 2, membranaceous, nearly equal. Palerc 2, ovate or roundish, coriaceous ; the 

 lower one larger, concave, and partly enclosing the flattened upper one. Sta- 

 mens 3. Grain included in the indurated palea). Such is the apparent structure 

 of the spikelet, but theoretically it is 2-flowered, as in Panicum, with the lower 

 glume and upper palea of the lower flower undeveloped. 



* Spikes racemed: spikelets partly enclosed by the recurved margins of the broadly 



winged membranaceous rachis. 



1. P. fluitans, Kunth. Spikes very numerous ; spikelets in two rows, mi- 

 nute {h" long), oblong, pubescent; glumes pointed; culm branching, ascending 

 from a creeping or floating base; leaves flat, broadly linear (4" -8" wide). 

 (Cercsia fluitans, Ell.) — River-swamps, Florida, and northward. Sept. and 

 Oct. (£ — Culms smooth, l°-3° long. 



- 2. P. Walteri, Schultes. Smooth ; spikes 3-7, the lowest ones included 

 in the sheath of the uppermost leaf; spikelets in two rows, ovate, smooth ; glumes 

 obtuse, 5-nerved. (P. vaginatum, Ell.) — Low cultivated grounds, Florida to 

 North Carolina, and westward. July and Aug. — Culms decumbent, creeping, 

 l°-3°long. Leaves linear, short. 



* * Spikes mostly by pairs, divaricate: spikelets ovate-lanceolate, acute, 2-rowed on 



the slender wingless rachis : glumes smooth, longer than the palece. 

 — 3. P. Digitaria, Poir. Peduncles elongated, lateral and terminal, often 

 2-3 together from the upper sheath; spikes (3'-4' long) filiform, spreading 

 horizontally; glumes even, 7-nerved, J longer than the obtuse perfect flower; 

 culms ascending from a creeping and branching base ; leaves lanceolate, obtuse, 

 flat, mostly fringed on the margins, the sheaths compressed. (Milium paspa- 

 lodes, Ell ) — Open swamps, Florida to North Carolina, and westward. July - 

 Sept. 1J. — Culms 1° - 2° high. 



4. P. vaginatum, Swartz. Peduncles single, terminal, spikes (rarely 3 or 

 4) short (1'- 1^' long), erect or horizontal ; glumes rugose, 5-nerved, rather longer 

 thai) the acute flower; culms diffusely creeping, short-jointed ; the flowering 

 branches (4'- 10' long) erect; leaves (l'-3'long) Bubulate-convolute, their dilated 

 imbricated sheaths persistent. (P. furcatum, JFluegge.) — Saline swamps, West 

 Florida, and southward. Aug. and Sept. 1J. — Culms 2°-4°long. Sheaths 

 compressed, bearded at the throat. 



* * * Spikee solitary, or few mid racemose: spikelets "r<ite or roundish, in 2-4 



ostly flattened andflexuovs: glumes andpalecs nearly equal. 

 • r >. P. distichum, L. Spikes 2, rarely 3 or 4, spreading (l'-U' long)j 

 spikelets in 2 rows, single, ovate, acute, as wide as the (straight rachis ; glumes 



