580 GRAMINE^:. (GRASS FAMILY.) 



base with long and stiff spreading hairs, the sheaths bristly throughout with similar 

 hairs ; panicle open, nearly simple, bearing few tumid-obovate hairy or smoothish 

 tpikelets about l" long ; lower glume roundish, about half or a quarter of the 

 length of the upper one. (P. leucoblepharis, Trin. ?) Wet meadows and 

 copses, W. New York to Wisconsin, and southward. June, July. Distin- 

 guished by its much larger spikelets, more nerved leaves, and coarser aspect, 

 from any form of the next. It has probably been described under several 

 names, some of them earlier than Elliott's. 



+* ++ Leaves linear or lanceolate, with few or indistinct primary nerves. 



17. P. <li4 Biotoimim, L. ! Culms (8' -20' high) at first mostly simple, 

 bearing a more or less exserted spreading compound panicle (l'-3' long), and 

 lanceolate flat leaves (those tufted at the root usually ovate-lanceolate and very 

 short, thickish) ; but commonly branching later in the season, the branches often 

 clustered, 'and bearing nearly simple and included small panicles ; spikelets %" to 

 about 1" long; oblong-obovate, downy or smooth; lower glume roundish, one third 

 or a quarter the length of the 5-T-nerved upper one. Founded on an autumnal 

 state of the species, much forked and with densely clustered lateral branchlets 

 and panicles. (P. nodiflorum, Lam.) Exhibits an interminable diversity of 

 forms; of which a shaggy-hairy and larger-flowered variety is P. pubescens, 

 Lam. ; and one with smaller spikelets is P. laxiflorum, Lam. ; while the varied 

 smooth or smoothish states with shining leaves are P. nitidum, Lam., and (the 

 more slender forms) P. barbulatum, Michx., P. ramulosum, Michx., frc. Dry 

 or low grounds; everywhere common, especially southward. June -Aug. 

 Some of these species are likely to be revived ; but if distinct, I am wholly 

 unable to limit them. 



18. P. depauperatum, Muhl. Culms simple or branched from the 

 base, forming close tufts (6' -12' high), terminated by a simple and few-flowered 

 contracted panicle, often much overtopped by the narrowly linear and elongated (4' - 7') 

 upper leaves ; spikelets f " - 1" long, oval-obovate, commonly pointed when young ; 

 the ovate lower one third the length of the 9-nerved upper one. 1J. (P. strictum, 

 Pursh. P. rectum, Rcem. Sf Schult.) Varies, with the leaves involute, at least 

 when dry (P. involutum, Ton:), and with the sheaths either beset with long 

 hairs or nearly smooth : the panicle either partly included, or oftener on a long 

 and slender peduncle. Dry woods and hills ; rather common, especially north- 

 ward. June. 



- - Lower flower destitute of an upper palea, and neutral. 



19. P. verrucdsum, Muhl. Smooth; culms branching and spreading, 

 very slender (1 - 2 long), naked above ; leaves linear-lanceolate (2" - 3 wide), 

 shining ; branches of the diffuse panicle capillary, few-flowered ; spikelets oval, 

 acute, |" long, warty-roughened (dark green) ; the lower glume one fourth the 

 length of the obscurely nerved upper one. ? Sandy swamps, New Eng- 

 land to Virginia, near the coast, and southward. Aug. 



3. ECHIN6CHLOA, Beauv. Spikelets imbricated-spiked on the branches of 

 the simple or compound raceme or panicle, rough with oppressed stiff hairs : lower 

 palea of the sterile floiver awl-pointed or awned. 



20. P. CRUS-GALLI, L. (BARNYARD-GRASS.) Culms stout, branching 



