650 MISC. PUBLICATION 200, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



90. Panicum malacophyllum Nash. (Fig. 1429.) Vernal phase 

 velvety or velvety-pilose throughout; culms slender, 25 to 70 cm tall, 

 ascending or spreading, the nodes retrorsely bearded; ligule 1 to 1.5 

 mm long; blades 7 to 10 cm long, 6 to 12 mm wide; panicle 3 to 7 cm 

 long; spikelets 2.9 to 3 mm long, papillose-pilose. Autumnal phase 

 spreading, forming bushy topheavy clumps with reduced blades. 

 21 Sandy woods, Tennessee to Kansas and Texas (fig. 1430). 



91. Panicum helleri Nash. (Fig. 1431.) Vernal culms 25 to 60 

 cm tall, ascending or spreading, appressed-pilose below, often glab- 



FIGUKE 1429. Panicum malacophyllum. Two views of 

 spikelet, and floret, X 10. (Type.) 



FIGURE 1430. Distribution of 

 Panicum malacophyllum. 



rous above; sheaths sparsely papillose-hispid to glabrous; blades 

 rather thin, glabrous on both surfaces or pubescent beneath, cilia te 

 toward the base; panicle 6 to 12 cm long; spikelets 2.9 to 3 mm long, 

 glabrous or with a few scattered hairs. Autumnal phase branching 

 at all but the lowest nodes, forming loose sprawling tufts, the blades 

 widely spreading, not much reduced, the long-pediceled spikelets 

 rather conspicuous among the foliage. 91 Open woods and 

 prairies, Missouri and Oklahoma to Louisiana and New Mexico (fig. 

 1432). Closely related to P. scribnerianum. 



FIGURE 1432. Distribution of 

 Panicum helleri. 



FIGURE 1431. Panicum helleri. Two views of 

 spikelet, and floret, X 10. (Type.) 



92. Panicum scribnerianum Nash. (Fig. 1433.) Vernal culms 

 20 to 50 cm tall, glabrous or harshly puberulent or sometimes ascend- 

 ing-pilose; sheaths striate, papillose-hispid to nearly glabrous; blades 

 ascending or erect, 5 to 10 cm long, 6 to 12 mm wide, firm, rounded at 

 the cilia te base, glabrous on the upper surface, appressed-pubescent 

 to glabrous beneath; panicle 4 to 8 cm long; spikelets 3.2 to 3.3 mm 

 long, obovate, blunt, sparsely pubescent to nearly glabrous. Autum- 

 nal phase branching from the middle and upper nodes. QJ. Sandy 

 soil or dry prairies, Maine to British Columbia, south to Maryland, 

 Tennessee, Texas, and Arizona (fig. 1434). 



