&2 TRIANDRIA. MONOGTNIA. 



(or united near the base). In most of the species the 

 awn is g-eiiiculated or bcni at an obtuse angle. 



Species. 1. prate/isis. (Naturalized; frequently assuming 

 the dt cunibent habit ot J. genicidatus. According- to Des- 

 fontaint.-s tliis species is subject to the parasitic allection of 

 Jiiicroscopic finigi, called in France Ergot) 2. snbansia- 

 tus'^ Mich, 



Nearly all ihe genuine species of this genus are con- 

 fined to Kurope, also extending- into Barbary in Afri- 

 ca. There are 10 species described, of which there are 2 

 at the L'ape of Good Hope, and 1 at the straights of Ma- 

 gellan, 



79. PANICUM. L. (Panick-grass.) 



Calix 3 valved, exterior valve often very 

 small, 1 -flowered, (nir)stly with the rudiments 

 of a sessile, neutral or masculine floret.) Corol- 

 la (hermaphrodite) 2-valved, cartilaginous and 

 persistent. 



Flowers densely or loosely paniculate, the panicle some- 

 times recemosely divided, with lateral conglomerations up- 

 on an angular rachis; but for the most part diffuse or spread- 

 ing, pvramidal, divaricate, or dichotomous, every where 

 teimmated by single flov/er-^, approximating by pairs. In 

 many species, the accessory, now considered the outer 

 glume of the proper calix, is very minute, in these spe- 

 cies the calix is often oval, or obovate, pubescent, with 

 the imperfect flower always destitute of sexual rudi- 

 rr.ents, and the panicle divaricate. Some odier species 



•|- Culm about a foot high, and as well as the sheathes 

 glaucous, repent at the base, or geniculate. Leaves smooth, 2 

 or 3 inches lung on the culm; stipula elong-ated, semicylindrjc. 

 Spike 1 to 2 inches long, somewhat attenuated above, cy- 

 lindric, a little lobed or divided near the base. Flowers ovate 

 obtuse, a little dilated. Calix connate at the base, conspicu- 

 ously ciliate on the carina and margins. Corolla obtuse, 

 smooth, edged with green as well as the calix; awn a little 

 exserted, straight, originating somewhat below the middle of 

 the valve. Stigmata white, filiform, exseried more than the 

 length of the corolla, scarcel}- plumose. 



In the waters and on the margins o<^ ponds, in Upper Canada. 

 JJ/r. Whitloxv In New-Jersey, near Philadelphia, Nearly allied 

 to A. geniculatiis, but the flower is not awned from the base,, 

 and the awn is also straight. 



