120 



GRAMIXEAE. 

 21. Panicum nitidum Lam. Shining Panicum. (Fig. 263.) 



Panictim nitidnm Lam. Encycl. 4: 748. 1797. 



Culms at first simple, i2 / -i8 / tall, later profusely 

 dichotomously branched, 2-3 long. Sheaths glab- 

 rous to pubescent ; ligule pilose ; leaves glabrous to 

 sparingly hirsute, truncate or slightly rounded at base, 

 the primary ones \ f -$' long, \y z "-$" wide, erect, 

 those of the branches %'-\' long, \" wide or less; 

 primary panicle long-exserted, i / -2 / long, ovoid, 

 those of the branches smaller and exceeded by the 

 leaves; spikelets about W long, obovoid, pubescent, 

 usually purple; first scale about one-third as long as 

 thespikelet, i-nerved; second and third scales broadly 

 oval or orbicular, 7-nerved, shining ; fourth scale 

 minutely apiculate, y 2 " long. 



Common in dry sandy soil, in the Eastern and Middle 

 States, and probably much more widely distributed. 

 June-Aug. 



22. Panicum dichotomum L. Forked Panicum. (Fig. 264.) 



Panicum dichotomum L. Sp. PI. 58. 1753. 

 Panicum ramulosum Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. i: 50. 



1803. 



Smooth and glabrous, or the lower nodes barbed, 

 culms erect, >^-2 tall, at first simple, later pro- 

 fusely dichotomously branched at about the middle. 

 Leaves light green, widely spreading, generally 

 much narrowed toward the base, the primary 

 ones distant, 2 / -3 / long, 2 // ~3 // wide, those of 

 the branches i' long or less, W~\" wide, some- 

 times involute ; primary panicle usually long- 

 exserted, I '-2' long; branches lax, spreading, 

 bearing few spikelets ; secondary panicles smaller, 

 not exceeding the leaves, their branches with very 

 few spikelets ; spikelets about \" long, ellipsoid, 

 glabrous. 



In woodlands and thickets, New York to Kentucky, 

 Missouri and southward. June-July. 



Panicum barbulatum Michx. Barbed Panicum. (Fig. 265.) 



Panicum barbulatum Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. i: 49. 

 1803. 



Culms at first simple, erect, 2-3 tall, later pro- 

 fusely branched for their whole length, 3-4 long, 

 prostrate or leaning, the nodes strongly barbed. 

 Leaves smooth and glabrous, generally truncate or 

 rounded at the base, the primary ones 3 / ~5 / long, 

 about %.' wide, widely spreading, the lower ones 

 usually reflexed, those of the branches #'-2' long, 

 i // -2 // wide ; primary panicle 3'-5' long, exserted, 

 ovoid, its branches ascending, rigid ; secondary 

 panicles smaller, lax, not exceeding the leaves, the 

 branches bearing few spikelets ; spikelets about 

 X" long, ellipsoid, purple, glabrous; first scale 

 about one-third as long as the spikelet, acute*. 



Moist soil, New York to Tennessee, south to Florida 

 and Texas. June-Aug. 



