578 GRAMINE^E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 



neutral flower, which exceeds the perfect one. (P. agrostidiforme, Lam. f P. 

 multiflorum, Pair.) Wet meadows, E. Massachusetts to Virginia, Illinois, 

 and southward. Aug. 



- *+ Neutral flower consisting of a single palea. 



6. P. prolifemin, Lam. Smooth throughout ; culms thickened, succulent, 

 Iranched and geniculate, ascending from a procumbent base ; sheaths flattened ; 

 ligule ciliate; panicles terminal and lateral, compound, pyramidal, the slender 

 primary branches at length spreading; spikelets oppressed, lance-oval, acute (pale 

 green), lower glume broad, i to ^ the length of the upper; neutral flower little 

 longer than the perfect one. (i) Brackish marshes and meadows; common 

 along the coast from Massachusetts southward : also along the Ohio and Mis- 

 sissippi. Aug. 



7. P. capillarc, L. Culm upright, often branched at the base and form 

 ing a tuft; leaves (large) and especially the flattened sheaths very hirsute; panicle 

 pt/ramiilal, capillary, compound and very loose (6' -12' long), the slender straight 

 brunches somewhat reflexed when old; spikelets scattered on long pedicels, oblong- 

 ovoid and pointed; lower glume half the length of the neutral palca, which is 

 longer than the ovoid-oblong obtuse perfect Jlower. (1, Sandy soil and cultivated 

 Ik-Ids everywhere. Aug., Sept. 



8. P. ailtlimnalc, Bosc ! Culm ascending, very slender (1 high), branch 

 ing below ; leaves small (!' 2' long, linear-lanceolate) and upper sheaths glabrous ; 

 panicle as in depauperate states of the last, but glabrous, except the strongly 

 \!,,n-(l.<-d main axils, its capillary much elongated divisions mostly simple and 

 bearing solitary spindle-shaped spikelets; lower glume minute ; perfect Jlower nar- 

 rowly oblong or lance-oblong, acute, nearly equalling the lance-oblong obtusish up- 

 per glume and the neutral palea. 1J. 1 (P. dichotomiflornm, Michx. ?) Sand- 

 lulls, Mason County, Illinois (Mead), and southward. This well-marked spe- 

 cies is either rare, or has been generally overlooked. 



- *- Sterile Jlower staminate, of 2 palece; lower glume little or % shorter : spikelets 

 large (W-2$>' long). 



0. P. vir^atiitii, L. Very smooth ; culms upright (3 -5 high) ; leaves 

 iv/;// long, fiat; branches of the compound loose and large panicle (9' -2 long) at 

 Miglh spreading or drooping; spikelets scattered, oval, pointed; glumes aud 

 sterile paleae pointed, usually purplish. 1J. Moist sandy soil; common, espe- 

 cially southward. Aug. 



10. P. am a I'll 111, Ell. Nearly smooth, rigid ; culms (l high) sheathed 

 to the top ; leaves involute, glaucous, coriaceous, the uppermost exceeding the contract&i 

 panicle, the simple racemose brandies of which are appressed, very smooth ; 

 spikelets ovate, pointed (pale) ; lower glume little shorter than the sterile flow- 

 er. 1J. Sandy shores, Connecticut (Barratt, Robbing), Virginia, and south- 

 ward. Aug., Sept. 



# # Panicle loosely spreading or diffuse, short. 

 - Lower (sterile) flower formed of 2 paletc (the upper one scarious and sometime* 



small and inconspicuous), neutral, except in No. 11, and OCCttnifmaliy in No. 11. 



where it is staminate. 



