24 Paniceae 



erect or ascending branches ; spikelets ovate, green or purple, 

 densely crowded in 2-4 rows on one side of the rachis ; second 

 and third glumes about 3 mm. long, scabrous or hispid, the third 

 glume more or less awned, empty, the fourth ovate abruptly 

 pointed. 



Frequent in neglected orchards and gardens and in waste places. 



** Awns none. 



2. P. colonum L. Culms tufted, smooth, 2-6 dm. high, often 

 decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes; sheaths compressed, 

 usually crowded; ligule wanting; leaves flat, 3-15 cm. long, 2-8 

 mm. wide; panicles composed of 3-18, 1-sided more or less 

 spreading dense branches, these 1-3 cm. long, spikelets single, or 

 in 2's or 3's in 2 rows on one side of the hispidulous triangular 

 rachis, obovate, pointed; first glume about half as long as the 

 spikelet, 3-nerved, the second and third glumes a little more 

 than 2 mm. long, awnless, 5-nerved, hispid on the nerves, the 

 fourth cuspidate. 



Occasional along irrigating ditches and in waste places about Los Angeles 

 and Santa Ana. 



3. P. capillare L. Culms erect or decumbent, 3-6 dm. high, 

 simple or sparingly branched; sheaths papillose-hirsute; leaves 

 15-30 cm. long, 6-15 mm. wide, more or less pubescent; terminal 

 panicle usually 2-4 dm. long, lower branches exserted and widely 

 spreading, 1-2 dm. long; spikelets 2-2.5 mm. long, acuminate; 

 first glume %-% as long as the spikelet ; second and third glumes 

 nearly equal, acute, the fourth 1.5 mm. long. 



Occasional along irrigating ditches and in neglected orchards and gardens. 



4. P. scoparium Lam. Culms simple and erect, becoming 

 profuse with age ; sheaths hirsute to villous, often papillose ; 

 leaves usually rounded or truncate at the base, pubescent or 

 glabrate, those of the culms 4-6 cm. long, those of the branches 

 much shorter ; terminal panicles less than 8 cm. long, ovoid, their 

 branches ascending; lateral panicles much shorter, not exceed- 

 ing the leaves; spikelets scarcely 2 mm. long, pubescent. (P. 

 pubescens Lam.) 



Not known to occur within our limits, but it has been found in the San 

 Jacinto Mountains by Mr. Hall, and at Glenn Ranch in Lytle Creek Canyon 

 by the author. 



