REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 349 



REPORT OF THE BOTANIST ON GRASSES. 



Sir: We present herewith, in continuation of the work commeuced 

 last year, descriptions and figures of some twenty-five additional species 

 of native or naturalized grasses, most of which are known to be more or 

 less \"aluable for forage or hay. A few that are known to be of little 

 or no agricultural value are introduced in order that they may be recog- 

 nized, as it is sometimes important to know the ai)pearance of weeds 

 and pests, in order that they may be treated accordingly. 



It is not to be supposed that all the grasses here described will be 

 generally adapted to cultivation. Our country jjresents such a diversity 

 of climate and soil that certain grasses, which have an established repu- 

 tation and are of primary value in one section of the country, will not meet 

 with the conditions favorable to their growth in another section ; and 

 there are some species which would be considered very inferior or worth- 

 less in one section, which are known to be of great value in others. 



The descriptions and figures will enable persons interested to recog- 

 nize our native grasses, and the chemical analysis will determine their 

 composition and relative nutritive value. 



The chemical analysis of the grasses described below will be found at 

 page 105 of this report. 



Panicum anceps — Flat-stemmed Panic-grass. 



This is a perennial grass, growing rather sparsely in moist sandy or 

 clay soil. It has a iiattish, erect stem, growing 2 to 3 feet high, with 

 smooth leaves, one foot or more long, of a bluish-green color, and mostly 

 near the base of the stem. The panicle is usually afoot long, with short 

 branches near the top, the lower ones 3 to 6 inches long, more distant, 

 and nearly erect, or somewhat spreading. Sometimes there are several 

 lateral panicles from the UDper joints of the culm. The rhizoma is thick, 

 scaly, and creeping near the surface of the ground. 



The spikelets are lanceolate, a little curved and sessile, or with short 

 pedicels. Each spikelet cousists of one perfect and one neutral flower, 

 and two glumes, the lower of which is only half as long as the strongly 

 5 to 7 nerved upper one. The lower palet of the sterile flower is as long 

 as the upper glume and much like it in texture, while its inner palet is 

 thin, obtuse, and nearly half shorter. The perfect flower, as in most 

 species of Panicttm, is thick and hard in texture, one-thii'd shorter than 

 the upper glume, oblong, and consisting of two smooth palets, the outer 

 one inclosing the inner, which again incloses the flowering organs. 



This cannot be considered a valuable grass, but it frequently occurs 

 in neglected and poor land in sufficient quantity to afl;bi'd considerable 

 grazing for stock. It makes its growth late in the season, usually reach- 

 ing the flowering stage in August. 



Mr, Mohr, of Mobile, remarks that it is not much relished by stock, 

 being rather harsh and dry. (See Plate I.) 



PANICUM AGEOSTOIDES.' 



This is very much like the preceding species, but of a much larr-er 

 and more vigorous growth, developing flower panicles from se. oral of 

 the joints as well as at the apex. These panicles are more densely 

 flowered than those of P. anceps. The spikelets are somewhat smaller 



