882 ENDOGENOUS PLANTS 



Obs. In autumn, the dry culms of this worthless grass break off, 



and the divaricate panicles are rolled over the fields, by the winds, 



until they accumulate in great quantities, along fences and hedges. 



t>. Sterile floret mostly staminate, with Zpaleae-. 



f Panicle elongated, compound. 



8. P. Virgatlim, L. Glabrous; culms tall; panicle-branches 

 virgate, finally spreading, and somewhat nodding ; spikelets ovate, 

 acuminate. 



VIRGATE, OR LONG-PANICLED PANICUM. 



Perennial: often purple : Culms 3 to 5 feet high. Leaves 1 to 3 feet long, pilose 

 at base ; liguk fringed with long white hairs. Panicle 1 to 2 feet long ; spikdets 

 rather large, scattered ; sterile floret staminate,' the upper palea membranaceoue 

 and white, infolding the purple stamens. 

 Hob. Along streams ; Brandy wine : not common. Fl. Augv Fr. Sept. 



ft Panicle short, simple; leaves broad. 



9. P. latifolium, L. Culms simple; nodes retforsely hairy; 

 leaves ovate-lanceolate ; sheaths usually smoothish. 

 BROAD-LEAVED PANICUM. 



Perennial. Culm 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves 3 or 4 inches long, and about an inch 

 wide, clasping; sheaths ciliate, sometimes pubescent. Panicle 2 to 3 inches in 

 length, generally exserted; spikelets oblong-ovoid, pubescent, large ; sterile Jkfet 

 with 3 perfect stamens. 



Hob. Shaded ditch banks; thickets, &c.: frequent. FL June. Fr. Aug. 

 c. Sterile floret neutral, with 2 paleae. 

 f Culm-leaves broad, several-nerved. 



10. P, clanclCNtimiin, L. Culms branching ; nodes smooth ; 

 leaves cordate-lanceolate ; sheaths hispid, inclosing the short lateral 

 panicles. 



CLANDESTINE, OR HIDDEN-FLOWERED PANICUM. 



Perennial. Culm 1 to 3 feet high, leafy at summit, one or two upper branches 

 finally much elongated. Leaves 3 to 6 inches long, ciliate at base ; sheaths deeply . 

 striate, strigosely hairy in the grooves. Panicles lateral, few-flowered, nearly 

 concealed in the sheaths ; spikdets oblong-ovoid, rather obtuse, large, pubescent. 

 Hob. Moist, low grounds ; along rivulets : frequent. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



11. P. microcarpon, Muhl. Culms simple ; sheaths smooth ; 

 leaves lanceolate, ciliate at base; panicle rather large; spikelets 

 small, ovoid, or obovoid. 



SMALL-FRUITED PANICUM. 



Perennial. Culm \% to 3 feet high, smooth; nodes glabrous. Leaves 3 to 9 

 inches long, roughish on the upper surface, the radical ones ovate, acute; sheaths 

 smooth, deeply striate; ligule none. Panicle 3 to 6 inches in length, much branch- 

 ed, somewhat pyramidal, on a long terminal peduncle ; spikelets numerous, at the 

 ends of the branches, nearly smooth; perfect floret bluish white. 

 Sab. Moist woodlands, and low grounds : frequent. Fl. July. Fr. Aug. 

 t f Culm-leaves narrow, few-nerved. 



12. P. dicliotomum, L. Culms at first simple, finally dicho- 

 tomous, with fascicled leafy branches, or often a few elongated 

 ones ; panicles capillary, slender. 



Also, P. nitidum. Lam. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 46. 



