TRIANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 53 



have the valves of the calix approaching to equallt)', 

 mostly acuminated; in these there is generally, if not 

 constantly, an imperfect floret producmg stamens, and 

 they are usually furnished with a dichotomous pani- 

 cle] either appressed, or dflTuse and pyraniidal.f 



The generic character of Panicum is now described by 

 Schreberas follows: 



Calix of 2 very unequal valves, containing 2 flowers, 

 the outer one male or neuter Corolla of 2 unequal valves, 

 finally cartilaginous and investing the seed. 



Schreber remarks, that the inner glume of the imper- 

 fect flower being overlooked, its outer glume was con- 

 ceivedto belong to the calix: hence the calix was tliouKdit 

 to consist of 3\alves, of which the third was much the 

 least. 



Species. .§ i Paniculate; flowers in dense racemes. 

 — 1. Crus-galli. 2. Walteri. 3. gibbnm. El. 4. moUe, (calix 

 only 2-valved? but 2-flowered, one of the flowers stam- 

 niferous only, allied to Milium? MicH.^ 5. gymnocar-pony 

 El. (a very remarkable species, with the valves of the 

 calix somewhat carinated, and nearly all equal, with an 

 imperfect neutral rudiment attacl)ed to the base of the 

 perfect flower; the Mhitish indurated corolla in seed al- 

 most resembles a Scleria, and is scarcely half the length 

 of the calix. Tiiis specjes is closely allied to the genus 

 Orthopogon Oi BvQ\vn,hai the valves aiv only acuminated, 

 not awned ) 6. genicidahim. El. 7- anceps 8. hfaiis, El. 

 (^P.tUvaricatvm. Mich.) 9.fusco-rxibens.—§ ii- Flowers in 

 panicles. — 10. virgatum. 1\. nitidum. l2. dichotomum. 13. 

 capillare. 14. /at/folium, lo.scopanum. 16 pavciforiim, Kt,. 

 17. amarum, (of an extremely bitter taste! El.) 18 scabrius. 

 cnhan 19. nervosum, E. 20. multijlorum, E. 2 1, ovahy E, 

 22. lamiginosum, E. 23. vL^cidmn, E. (remarkably viscid 

 or glutinous near the nodes of the culm. Several other 

 species in the United State, have glandular exudations.) 

 24. vUlosum, El. 25. pubescens. 26. spluerocavpon, E. 27. 

 ciliatum, E. 28. ensifctlium, V.. 29 barbulatum. 30. microcar- 

 pon> E. 31. JyJeUcnrinm. 32. debile, E. oZ. angustifoUum. 

 34. divergens, E. 35. elongatunh Pursh. 



The soulh-rn and middle states of North .\merlca 

 now aflTord about one third as many species of this ge- 

 nus as are at present discovered in the world. About 110 

 •genuine species of Pan'.cum are described, independent 

 of thosi,- with involucellate spikes, which are now placed 

 in the genus PemiiseUim, and a few others in Orthopogrya. 



t This habitus merely describes the .\merican species. 

 r 2 



