2IO GRAMINEAE. 



80. GRAPHEPHORUM Desv. Bull. Soc. Philom. 2: 189. 1810. 



Slender erect grasses, with flat leaves and a usually contracted nodding panicle. Spike- 

 lets 2-4-flowered, flattened, the rachilla hirsute and extending beyond the flowers. Two 

 lower scales empty, somewhat shorter than the flowering scales, thin-membranous, acute, 

 keeled- flowering scales membranous, obscurely nerved, entire, sometimes short-awned just 

 below the apex. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain glabrous. [Greek, 

 pencil-bearing, referring to the tuft of hairs at the end of the rachilla.] 



Two known species, natives of northern North America. Other Mexican glasses are referred 

 to this genus by authors. 



j. Graphephorum melicoideum (Michx.) Beauv. Graphephorum. 



(Fig. 483.) 



Aira melicoides Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. i: 62. 1803. 

 Graphephorum melicoideum Beauv. Agrost. 164. 



pi. 15. f. 8. 1812. 



Dupontia Cooleyi A. Gray, Man. Ed. 2, 556. 1852. 

 Graphephorum melicoides var. major A. Gray, 



Ann. Bot. Soc. Can. i: 57. 1861. 



Culms i-2^ tall, erect, simple, rough just 

 below the panicle. Sheaths usually shorter 

 than the internodes, smooth, or the lower often 

 villous; ligule \" long or less, truncate; leaves 

 I /^ / "9 / l n g> i // -2 // wide, long-acuminate, 

 rough; panicle 2 / -6 / in length, the top usually 

 nodding, the branches erect, i / -2 / long; spike- 

 lets 2-4-flowered, 2> // -3 // long; scales scabrous 

 on the keel, the empty ones unequal, the first 

 i-nerved or obscurely 3-nerved, shorter than the 

 3-nerved second; flowering scales 3-5 -nerved, 

 acute. 



In wet soil, Anticosti Island to Ontario, south to 

 Maine and Michigan. Aug. -Sept. 



8z. PANICULARIA Fabr. Enum. Hort. Helmst. 373. 1763. 

 R. Br. Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl. i: 179. 1810.] 



Mostly perennial grasses, often tall, with flat leaves and paniculate inflorescence. Spike- 

 lets few-many-flowered, terete or somewhat flattened. Two lower scales empty, obtuse or 

 acute, i~3-nerved; flowering scales membranous, rounded on the back, 5-g-nerved, the 

 nerves disappearing in the hyaline apex. Palets scarcely shorter than the scales, rarely 

 longer, 2-keeled. Stamens 2 or 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain smooth, en- 

 closed in the scale and palet, free, or when dry slightly adhering to the latter. [Latin, 

 referring to the panicled spikelets.] 



About 16 species, widely distributed in North America, a few in Europe and Asia. 



Spikelets ovate or oblong, 4" long or less. 



Flowering scales very broad, obscurely or at least not sharply nerved. 

 Panicle open, the branches ascending or spreading, often drooping. 



Spikelets 3~5-nowered; lowest flowering scale about i" long. i. P. laxa. 



Spikelets 5-i2-flowered; lowest flowering scale about i %" long. 2. P. Canadcnsis. 

 Panicle contracted, the branches erect. 3. P. obtusa. 



Flowering scales narrow, sharply and distinctly 7-nerved. 



Panicle elongated, its branches erect or appressed. 4. P. elongata. 



Panicle not elongated, open, its branches spreading or drooping, rarely erect. 

 Scales about i" long, obtuse or rounded at the apex. 



Spikelets i'A" long or less; branches of the panicle often drooping. 



5. P. nervata. 

 Spikelets 2"-^" long; branches of the panicle ascending or spreading. 



6. P. *-\mt'rii-ana. 

 Scales i K"-i 1 A" long, truncate and denticulate at the apex. 7. P. pallida. 



Spikelets linear, 6" long or more. , 



Flowering scales i ^"-3" long, obtuse, longer than the obtuse palet. 8. P. fluitans. 



Flowering scales about 4" long, acute, much shorter than the long-acuminate palet. 



9. P. acutiflora. 





