PANICUM. 197 



lower one usually short or minute (rarely ever want- 

 ing), membranaceo-herbaceous, the upper as long as 

 the fertile flower ; lower flower either neutral or stam- 

 inate, of one palet, which closely resembles the upper 

 glume, and sometimes with a second thin one; upper 

 flower perfect, closed, coriaceous or cartilaginous, 

 usually flattish, parallel with the glumes, awnless, 

 except in Digitaria, enclosing the free and grooveless 

 grain ; stamens 3 ; stigmas plumose, usually 

 purple. 



An ancient Latin name of the Italian millet, P. Ital- 

 icum, now Setaria Italics Thought to come from 

 paniS) bread some species furnishing a kind of 

 bread corn. 



1. P. Filiforme (Slender Crab grass). Somewhat 

 resembling paspalum digitaria. Sandy soils near 

 the coast. Flowers in August. 



2. P. Glabrum (Smooth Crab grass). Common in 

 cultivated grounds. A troublesome weed. Flowers 

 in August. 



3. P. Sangninale (Common Crab or Finger grass). 

 In cultivated and waste grounds, a troublesome 

 weed. Flowers irom August to October. 



4. P. Anceps (Double-headed Panic). Wet, sandy 

 soil, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, to Virginia 

 and southward. Flowers in July and August. 



5. P. Agrostoides (Agrostis-like Panic grass). Wet 

 meadows and borders of rivers, from Massachusetts 

 to Virginia, Illinois and southward. Flowers in July 

 and August. 



