REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 351 



Western Territories, which will probably be more valuable. We give a 

 figure of it chiefly for comparison, so that it may not be mistaken for a 

 more valuable si^ecies. (See Plate IV.) 



PANICUM aiBBU^I. 



This is a perennial species, growing in swamps and low wet ground in 

 the Southern States from North Carolina to Florida. The stem is de- 

 cumbent, branching and rooting' at the lower joints. The panicle is 3 

 to 5 inches long, and narrow from the erect, appressed branches. The 

 spikelets are oblong or lance-oblong, rather obtuse, although narrowed 

 above. The upper glume is strongly 11-nerved, swollen at the base, 

 and twice as long as the smooth fertile flower. The lower glume is small, 

 about one-foui'th the length of the upper one. The leaves are smooth, 

 or rarely somewhat hairy, one-half inch broad and 6 to 8 inches long. 

 The whole plant is of a deei)-green color. The flowers drop off soon 

 after flowering. 



This grass, if occurring in abundance, would be of considerable value, 

 as it furnishes a good deal of nutritious matter. (See Plate Y.) 



PANICUM DivAEiCATUM— Oane-like Panic grass. 



This is a tropical and subtroi:>ical species, found in our country only 

 in Florida and the Gulf States, near the coast. It is a shrubby ijlant, 

 the culms being woody and persistent, like a small kind of cane. Of 

 course only the young shoots and leaves can be eaten by cattle. In the 

 districts where it grows it may be utilized, as an analysis of its compo- 

 sition gives a very good result. The larger stems are of the size of 

 a goose-quill. It is smooth and decumbent, with short spreading 

 branches. 



The leaves are lanceolate, 2 to 3 inches long by 4 to 5 lines wide, grad- 

 ually pointed. The panicles terminate the branches, are 2 to 4 inches 

 long, with comparatively short divergent branches and few flowers. The 

 spikelets are obovate and swollen, about 2 lines long and smooth, except 

 a very minute cottony tuft at the apex. (See Plate VI.) 



Andropogon MACEOTJRUS-— Heavy-topped Broom grass. 



We present a figure of another of the species of Andropogon^ Broom 

 grass or Broom sedge, the Andropogon macrouriis. It is very frequent 

 on low sandy ground, near the coast, from New Jersey to Florida, and 

 thence westward to Texas. It has a stout culm 2 to 3 or even 4 and 5 

 feet high, " bushy branched at the summit, loaded with very numerous 

 spikes forming thick leafy clusters." The fertile flower has a capillary 

 awn 3 or 4 times the length of the glume, and the sterile flower, which 

 is usually present in the genus, is in this species reduced to a slender 

 plumose pedicel. 



None of the species of Broom grass are to be recommended for cid- 

 tivation. The analyses show their relative value, and how much may 

 be expected from their utilization on lands where thev occur. (See 

 Plate VII.) 



Triticum repens— Couch grass, Quack grass. 



There has been a good deal of discussion relative to this grass, some 

 pronouncing it one of the vilest of weeds, and others claiming for it high 



