(GRASS FAMILY.) 649 



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 and P. ramulosum, Michx., $c. Some of 

 these may be good species. Dry or low grounds : common. June- Aug. 



18. P. depauper&tum, 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 |" - 1" long, oval-obovate, commonly pointed when young ; 

 the ovate lower glume one third the length of the! - ^-nerved upper one. (P. strictum, 

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

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

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

 slender peduncle. Dry woods and hills : rather common. June. 



- <- Lower sterile flower of a single palet, and neutral. 



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

 very slender (l-2 lo.ng), naked above ; leaves linear-lanceolate (2" -3" wide), 

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

 roughened (dark green), oval, acute, f " long ; the lower glume one fourth the 

 length of the obscurely nerved upper one. Sandy swamps, New England 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, usually rough with appressed stiff hairs : 

 lower palet of the sterile flower awl-pointed or awned. 



20. P. CRUS-GALLI, L. (BARNYARD-GRASS.) Root annual; culms stout, 

 branching from the base (l-4 high) ; leaves lanceolate (|' or more wide), 

 rough-margined, otherwise with the sheaths smooth; spikes alternate (l'-3 ; 

 long), crowded in a dense panicle; glumes ovate, abruptly pointed ; lower palet 

 of the neutral flower bearing a rough awn of variable length. Varies greatly ; 

 sometimes awnless or nearly so ; sometimes long-awned, especially so in the var. 

 HfspiDUM (P. hispidum, Muhl., P. longisetum, Torr.), a very large and coarse 

 form of the species with the sheaths of the leaves very bristly. Moist, chiefly 

 manured soil : the variety in ditches, especially of brackish water ; possibly in- 

 digenous. Aug. -Oct. (Nat. from Eu.) 



61. SET ARIA, Beauv. BRISTLY FOX-TAIL GRASS. (PL 13.) 



Spikelets altogether as in Panicum proper, and awnless, but with the short 

 peduncles produced beyond them into solitary or clustered bristles resembling 

 awns (but not forming an involucre). Inflorescence a dense spiked panicle, or 

 apparently a cylindrical spike. Annuals, in cultivated or manured grounds, 

 with linear or lanceolate flat leaves : properly to be regarded as merely a sub- 

 genus of Panicum. (Name from seta, a bristle.) 



* Bristles single or in pairs, roughened or barbed downwards. 



1. S. VERTICILL\TA, Beauv. Spike cylindrical (2' -3' long, pale green), 

 composed of apparently whorled short clusters; bristles short, adhesive. (Pan- 

 icum verticillatum, L.) Near dwellings. (Adv. from Eu.) 



