61 



Fig. 55. PANICUM AMARUM Ell. Sk. Bot. S.C. and Ga. 1 : 121. 1817. BITTER 

 PANIC-GRASS.— A stout, glaucous perennial 3-12 dm. {l°-4°) high, from strong, 

 creeping rootstocks, with rather long, rigid leaves, and many flowered, open 

 panicles 20-60 cm. (8'-24') long. Ligule a ring of hairs; leaves 30-40 cm. (12'- 

 16') long. Panicle branches erect or ascending, the lower sometimes 20 cm. 

 (8') long. Spikelets (c) 5-6 mm. (2i"-3") long, outer glumes acuminate, the first 

 one-half to two-thirds as long as the second. The shorter and obtuse flowering 

 glume and palea inclosing the perfect flower are shown at d and ^.— Sandy 

 beaches, coast of southern New England to southern Florida. July to Novem- 

 ber. In var. minor Vasey and Scribn. U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Bot. Bui. 8: 38, 1889 

 (shown in a), the more slender culms are more leafy, leaves shorter, and the 

 shorter panicle-branches appressed. 



Bitter panic is a good sand-binder, and along our Southern coasts it can be 

 utilized for binding the drifting sands. 



