22 



FiG. 11. Two spikelets, one closed, one opened, of Setaria glauca. 



12. Two spikelets, one closed, one opened, of Alopecnrns pratensis. 



13. Two spikelets, one closed, one opened, of Holcus lanatus. 



14. A spikelet of Descharupsia ciespitosa and one of its flowers. 



15. A spikelet of Poa serotina and one of its flowers. 

 10. A spikelet of Broinus erectus and oiie of its flowers. 



17. The male and female spikelets of Buchloe dac! \loides, the former both 

 closed and opened. 



PASPALUM. 



In this genus the panicle does not divide into numerous slender branches as in 

 many other kinds, but the flowers are arranged in several rows on one side of a nar- 

 row, flattened branch, called a rhachis. Each flower consists of two empty glumes 

 of equal or nearly equal length, of a flowering glume of a thickish, hard texture, the 

 edges of which overlap a palet of similar texture, and between these two are inclosed 

 the stamens and pistils. 



This genus has its range principally in the Southern and Southwest- 

 ern States. The species are very numerous, are mostly perennial, and 

 vary much in form and habit. Some are tall and erect, some decum- 

 bent or spreading, and others have the habit of sending out runners, 

 which take root at short intervals and thus spread and form dense 

 patches. They ar<f all relished by cattle, and some of them are consid- 

 ered valuable as pasture grasses. 



Paspalum dilatatum. 



This may be called the ,h airy -flowered Paspalum. It has been found 

 native in Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and 

 Texas, and has been introduced into other States. It also occurs in 

 South America. It grows from 1 2 to 5 feet high, with numerous leaves 

 about a foot in length and one-third to one half an inch, in breadth. It 

 does not creep upon the ground like the following species, but is in- 

 clined to grow in tufts, which may attain considerable size. It is rec- 

 ommended both for pasture and hay by the few who have tried it. 



This species has also been called Paspalum ovatum, but the name 

 above given, having been first applied, is the proper one. 



Charles N. Ely, Smith Point, southeastern Texas, says : 



Paspalum dilatatum was brought to this country about twelve years ago, and planted 

 by S. B. Wall is. It is a promising grass for hay and pasture, growing best on moist 

 lands, but doing well on upland. It is easily subdued by cultivation, and is not in- 

 clined to encroach on cultivated lands. It is best propagated b,y roots or sets, the 

 seed not being reliable. It is rather slow in starting, but when well rooted it spreads 

 and overcomes all other grasses. Tramping and grazing is more of an advantage to 

 it than otherwise. I think that this grass will succeed in a great variety of soils and 

 climates, but those planting it must have patience with it at first. 



Mr. Wallis, above referred to, says: 



This I consider the most valuable of all the grasses with which I am acquainted; it 

 is perennial and grows here all the year round, furnishing excellent green feed for 

 stock at all seasons, except that tlie green blades freeze in our coldest weather per- 

 haps two or three times in a winter. It increases rapidly from seeds, and also repro- 

 duces itself from suckers, which sprout froai the nodes of the culm after the lirst crop 



