128 PAXICACE^. 



Introduced along the Gulf coast, near salt water; also found in 

 Mexico, Brazil, Europe, Asia, northern Africa and Australia. 



Var. confertum Vasey, Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3:28 

 (1892). 



Culms 7-30 cm. high, blades spreading, 3-6 cm. long, 3-5 mm. 

 wide; panicle simple, 2-7 cm. long; first glume longer and less 

 obtuse. 



Louisiana, Langlois. 



Near salt water on the Gulf coast. 



42. P. anceps Michx. Fi. Bor. Am. 1 : 48 (1803). 



A rather slender erect perennial, 60-90 cm. high, culms 

 flattened from stout, scaly rootstocks, the internodes of which are 

 2-3 mm. long. Sheaths often hairy ; blades scabrous or not, 

 slender, 30-40 cm. long, 5 mm. wide. Panicles terminal, 20-40 

 cm. long, rarely one or more lateral ones, rays erect or spreading. 

 Spikelets ovate-oblong, acute, often bending sidewise from the ap- 

 pressed branches at a wide angle, bringing pedicel and first glume 

 into line, apex often curved, 2.2-2.5 mm. long; first glume over 1 

 mm. long, 3-nerved, second ovate, 5-7-nerved; floral glume of 

 sterile spikelet like the latter, only a little longer, its palea two- 

 thirds as long; fertile floret smooth, hard, elliptical, 1.5 mm. long. 

 Some forms are much like P. agrostoicles Spreng. District of 

 Columbia, U. S. Dept. Agricnl from Gerald McCarthy. 



Alabama, Mohr. 



Massachusetts to Texas. 



43. P. agrostoides Muhl. Gram. 119 (1817). 



An erect branching perennial, witli smooth, flattened culms,. 

 80-180 cm. high. Sheaths often compressed, softly hairy; blades 

 flat, smooth or rough, 40-80 cm. long, 7-12 mm. wide. Panicles 

 20-40 cm. long, usually reddish or purple, terminal and lateral, 

 rays numerous, spreading or erect. Spikelets elliptical or lanceo- 

 late, usually in line with the very short pedicels, apex straight, 

 2-2.5 mm. long; first glume acute, 1.5 mm. long, 3-nerved, second 

 5-nerved ; floral glume of sterile floret like it, only shorter, its palea 

 two-thirds as long; fertile floret smooth, oval, 1-1.5 mm. long. 

 Quite variable. 



