50 JOURNAL OF THE 
3”—4” wide. Panicle long-peduncled, mostly smooth, 
1’--2’ long, at first contracted, later pyramidal, branches 
numerous, fascicled; spikelets broadly ovate, }” long 
purplish, first scale minute, second and third 7-nerved, 
pubescent. Later stages fasciculate branched, the small 
branches and leaves ascending. 
Too close to P. nitidum, from which it is distinguished only by its 
smaller size, and smaller panicle. New Jersey: Commons; 1897. 
District of Columbia: Kearney ; June, 1897. 
50) PANICUM NITIDUM Lam. Encl. 4; 748 (1797). 
Stems often tufted, erect, strict, 10’ to 34 feet high, near- 
ly glabrous; later stages much branched, from the 
sheaths. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, glabrous 
or with soft ascending hairs, or, to the southward, 
the lower sheaths papillose-hirsute; ligule pilose. 
Leaves firm, ascending, 7—-9-nerved, oblong-lanceolate, 
2’--4 long, 3”--4” wide, glabrous, or appressed pubes- 
cent beneath, shorter than the internodes; upper much 
reduced. Panicle 2’--3’ long, broadly oval, at least the 
lower branches ascending, spikelets numerous, on very 
slender pedicels, about 7” long, broadly ovate. 
New England to North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Its distribution 
farther westward undetermined. 
District of Columbia: Kearney; 1897. North Carolina: Ashe ; 1898. 
Wisconsin: Pammel; Prairie du Chien, 1891. 
This is a very confusing and variable species. I have studied it in 
the field for three seasons and have carefully noted its variability. 
To the northeast, where it is common at least as far as New Jersey, 
it is generally glabrous or nearly so; to the southward it is often pubes- 
cent, with the sheaths papillose-hirsute, though the glabrous form oc- 
curs occasionally along with it. It is variable in size and in the shape 
and size of its spikelets, even on the same individual. ‘The long pilose 
ligule, however, is constant. To the extreme southeast P. leucothrix 
occurs, which is closely allied to P. mittidum, and isthe P. nitidum of 
Elliott. It is also very variable in its pubescence and in the size and 
shape of its spikelets. In the extreme west P. nitidum is represent-. 
ed by P. thermile Boland, a rather low, nearly glabrous species ; while 
closely allied to it is a very villous form with larger, narrower spike- 
lets, which seems to be specific. Its description follows: 
