lOlS] 



The Grasses of Illinois 



299 



It also grows along the banks of streams and ponds. It furnishes very 

 good fodder if present in sufficient quantities. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Southern lUiuois, Vasey in 1860. 

 CLINTON CO. Shattuck, Waite. hancock co. Augusta, Mead. jackson co. 

 Makanda, Seyviour, Aug., 1880. kankakee co. Kankakee, Be Sehn, Aug., 1913. 

 MADISON CO. Madison, Eggert 227. peokia CO. Peoria, Brendel in 1859. pu- 

 LASKi CO. Mound City, Vasey. ST. clair co. "Without locality, Brendel in 1850; 

 Mascoutah, Welsch. wabash co. Without locality. Shearer, Sept., 1898. 



Panicum anceps Michx. 



(Fig. 59) 



Brendel '59, 585; Vasey '61, 671; Patterson '76, 52; Flagg '78, 284; Brendel 

 -'87, 64; Hitchcock and Chase '10, 107. 



Culms erect from stout, scaly rootstocks, smooth, 1.5 to 3 feet long; 

 sheaths finely pubescent or smooth and glabrous ; blades often folded 



together at base, usually slightly 

 rough and glabrous, sometimes a 

 few hairs near the base, 8 to 20 

 inches long, 4 to 10 mm. wide; 

 panicles stiffly erect, the long 

 slender branches not close to- 

 gether, bearing short, appressed 

 branchlets, mostly along the 

 lower side ; spikelets 3 to 3.8 mm. 

 long, usually about 3.5. 



This species is found iu moist, 

 sandy soil, often in open woods. 



60 



59, P. anceps; 



59 



Figs. 59-60.— Spikelets: 

 60, P. agrostoides 



It is of no economic importance. 



ILLINOIS specimens : Without locality, Vasey. Henderson co. Without lo- 

 cality, Patterson, peoria co. Peoria, Brendel. pope co. Herod, Clinton, July, 

 1898. PULASKI CO. Mound City, Vasey. ST. clair co. Mascoutah, Welsch. 

 union CO. Anna, (Sei/mowr, Aug., 1880. wabash co. Mt. Carmel, TFai^e in 1887; 

 Paton Station, Schneck, Aug., 1881. 



Subgenus DICHANTHELIUM Hitchcock and Chase 



The remaining groups of Panicum are included in this subgenus. 

 In these plants there is a more or less well-marked winter rosette of 

 leaves at the base of the plant, which are broader and shorter than 

 the other leaves (Fig. 67). This rosette is formed in midsummer 

 or fall, and lives over until spring. In the spring simple culms (Fig. 

 73) are produced, bearing terminal panicles with numerous spikelets, 

 which seldom produce seed (Fig. 67b). After these panicles are 

 mature, the culms branch and the Avinter rosette is formed. This 

 changes the appearance of the plant completely in most cases (Fig. 67) , 

 and some of these autumnal forms have been described as new species. 

 A second lot of panicles, often hidden by the sheaths, arc produced 

 on the branches, the spikelets on these producing seed. 



