TRIANDRIA. BIGYNIA, 17 



tt Flowers in Spikes- 



54. PENNISETUM. Nutt. Gen. &). 

 [Lat. Pcnna, a feather, and Seta, a bristle; the bristly involucre being plumose, in soine species.l 



JriTO^acreofmanybristleis: Florets sessile. Male, Crarely JVeut.) Coj-. valves scaviose. ' 

 Hermaph. Cal. 2 valved, unequal. Cor. valves cartilaginous. 



P. GJ.AUCUM. B. Fl. Phil. Spike terete; involucels bristly-fasciculate; corolla valves transversely rugose. 

 Synon. Panicum glaucum. Mx. Mahl. &c. Fu/go— Fox-tail-grass. Bottle-grass. 

 FL Middle of July, and after. Fr. mat. Middle of August, and after. 



Hub. Stubble fields, meadows, orchards, &c. very common. Is to 3 feet high. 



Obs. This well known grass is more abundant than welcome in our cultivated grounds; as cattle are not 

 very fond of it. Poultry, ho-.vever, feed upon the ripe see Js. Is it a native? — Dr. Smith (See Cyclop, 

 ari Pa'vicum) decidedly objects to the grounds on which this genus is erected; and I am by no means 

 sure tliat he is not correct. 



55. ATHEROPOGON. Nntf. Gen. 110. 

 [Gr. Ather, or Aither, a bristle, or awn, and Pogon, beard; the beards being bristle-like.] 



Spikelets alternate, in a raceme. Cal. 2 valved; inner setiform. Neitt. Cor. 1 valved, with 3 exserted awns. 

 Heiimaph. Cor. 2 valved; exterior tridentate; interior bidentate. Seed naked, oblong. 



A. APLUDOiDES. Muhl. Spikelets numerous, reflexed, secund, each 4 to 10 glumes; leaves lanceolate; 

 Synon. Chloris curtipendula. Jilx. Cynosurus secundus.' Ph. Sappl. 

 Fl. Latter end of July. Fr. mat. Beginning of September. 



Hab Barren ridge, north of E. Worthington's, abundant. 1 to 3 feet high. 



Obs. This handsome and remarkable grass, is quite local and circumscribed in its habitat; being only to 

 be seen on the most sterile parts of thii Barren ridge, (in company with Talinum, Arenaria stricta, &c.) 

 where it grows in great abundance. The anthers are of a beautiful cinnabar, or light vermillion-color; and 

 are quite showy when the plant is in bloom. The accompanying plate, iVorna drawing by an ingenious, 

 self-iaught youth, will atibrd a tolerably correct idea of the habit of the jjlant; although the artist had'not the 

 advantage of a botanical eye. The florets composing each spikelet, are arranged in pairs on the under 

 side of a flat, reflected rachis, which looks as if it mignt have been shaved dovvn from the stalk: and the 

 spikelets, (10 to 40 in number,) although their footstalks proceed from opposite sides of the stem, or common 

 rachis, and appear at first in two ranks,— yet they are finally all turned to one side, making the raceme se- 

 cund, or one ranked. Pursh, who did not see this grass, makes Michaux's Chloris curtipendula a distinct 

 flant; as lilcewise does Willdenow. They are undoubtedly the same: and the Cynosurus sscundus, of 

 'ursh, is probably nothing else. Cattle are pretty fond of it whilst it is young; but ft becomes rather hard 

 and wiry, when old . 



56. MOI^LUGO. Nutt. Gen. 125. 

 [Obscure; supposed to be from the Lat. JMollis, soft; because of its soft leaves.] 

 Cal. 5 leaved, colored inside. Cor. 0. Caps. 3 celled, 3 valved. Seeds nujnerous, reciform 

 M. VERTiciLLATA. Ell. Stem prostrate, branching; leaves verticillate, cuneiform; peduncles 1 flowered- 

 l'«/°-o— Carpet-weed. Indian Chickweed. 



Fl. Middle of July, and after. Fr. mat. Beginning of August, end after. 



Hab. Gardens, fields, &c. common. Branches 3, lotior S inches long, in every direction. 



Obs. Some of the seeds are ripe before the plant has put forth all its flowers. I have observed it occa- 

 sionally to be Tetrandraiis, in gardens, and other rich soils. 



.57. QTjERIA. Nuii. Gen. 234. 



[In honor of Don Jose Qiier y Ulaj^tinez; a Spanish Botanist.] 



Cal. -5 parted, connivent, Cor. 0. Stam. 3, rarely 3. Caps, utricular, not opening. Seed 1, sitb-renifoiin . 



Q. CANADENSIS. Bart. Fl. Phil. Stem dichotomously branched; leaves cuneate-oblong, giabroi'.?. 

 Syywn. Anychia dichotoma. Mx. znd Ph. A. canadensis. FU. Fr/go— Foiked Chickv.'eed. 

 Fl. Middle of June, and after. Fr. mat. Beginning of Aug-."rt, and after. 



Hab. Dry, hilly woodlands: common, 4 to 12 inches high. 



Obs. I have met with some remarkable vcirkties of this plant; with very small leaves and iarge ttipiil-;?. 



D 



