428 



POACE^. 



habit of Panicum colonum. A genus containing only one species, 

 which has a very wide range. It is found in southern Europe, 

 temperate Asia, and Xortli America. 



1. B. erucaeformis uniflorus Scribn., Yasey, Descr, Cat. Gram. 

 U. S., 8 (1885), name only. 



Annual; culms rather stout, simple, 60-90 cm. high. Ligule 

 elongated; blades roughish, 10-20 cm. long, 5-8 mm. wide. Pani- 

 cle 10-30 cm. long, rays single or in twos or threes, 1.5-4 cm. 

 long. Spikelets 1-flowered, nearly orbicu- 

 lar or broadly obovate, 2.5-3 mm. long, first 

 and second glumes with 3 principal nerves 

 and some transverse nerves. 



Ontario, Foiuler ; South Dakota, Duffey; 

 Colorado, Cassidy; IMontan^, Anderson; 

 Washington, Lake; Oregon, Howell. 



Mountain regions mainly west of the 

 Mississii^pi. A grass of some prominence as 

 a forage plant for certain localities. 



Bechmannia has been usually placed in 

 Phalarideffi, but Bentham believed it be- 

 longed to Panicese. The habit and inflo- 

 rescence are those of Panicum colonum; but 

 it is exceptional in Paniceae as having both 

 the flowers perfect; the lower flower is, 

 however, usually sterile. A similar character 

 is to be found in some of the species of Seta- 

 ria, and very rarely in Panicum itself, next 

 to which the genus appears to be placed in 

 Chlorides. 



92. (191). Eletjsine Gfertn. Fruct. 1:7, «". -? (1788). Dacty- 

 loctenium Willd. Enum. Hort. Berol. 1029 (1809). Acrachne 

 Wight & Arn. Lindl. Introd. Nat. Syst. Ed. 2, 381 (1836). 



Spikelets several-flowered, flat, imbricate in 2 rows on one side 

 of the digitate or scattered branches of a simple jianicle, rachilla 

 articulate above the outer glumes, flowers perfect or the upper one 

 staminate. Glumes spreading, keeled and conduplicate, thin but 



- Beckrnannia 

 erucmformis uniflorus. 

 Spikelet dissected. 

 (Scribner.) 



