144 BARN GRASS. 



feet long, roughish ; panicle open. Flowers in June 

 and July. 



POLYMORPHIC PANIC (Panicum dicliotomum) is com- 

 mon in all parts of the country, on dry and low grounds. 

 Lower glume roundish, one-third or a quarter the length 

 of the five to seven nerved upper one. 



WORTHLESS PANIC (Panicum depauperatum) is also 

 common northward, in dry woods and hills. Stems 

 simple, forming close tufts, terminated by a simple and 

 few-flowered contracted panicle, often overtopped by 

 the upper leaves. 



WARTY PANIC (Panicum verrucosum) is found in 

 sandy swamps, near the coast, from New England to 

 Virginia, and southward. Stems branching and slender, 

 smooth, one to two feet high ; leaves shining ; branches 

 of the diffuse panicle slender, few-flowered ; spikelets 

 oval, roughish with warts, dark-green. Flowers in 

 August. 



BARN GRASS, or BARN-YARD GRASS (Panicum crus-galli), 

 is very common. Its spikes are alternate and in pairs, 

 sheaths smooth, rachis bristly ; stem from two to four 

 feet high, stout, erect, or somewhat procumbent ; leaves 

 half an inch broad ; panicle dense, pyramidal ; glumes 

 acute; awn variable in length, and sometimes wanting; 

 outer palea of the neutral flower usually awned. One 

 or two varieties have rough or bristly sheaths. It 

 grows on moist, rich, or manured soils, and along the 

 coast in ditches. Flowers in August, September, and 

 October. 



Some experiments have been made to cultivate this 

 common species in the place of millet, to cut for green 

 fodder. It is relished by stock, and is very succulent 

 and nutritive, while its yield is large. 



