678 GBAMIXEJE. (GRASS FAMILY.) 



neutral flower, which exceeds the perfect one. (P. agrostidiforme, Lam. f P 

 multiflorum, Poir.) Wet meadows, E. Massachusetts to Virginia, Illinois, 

 and southward. Aug. 



-* ++ Neutral flower consisting of a single palea. 



6. P. proliferiini, Lam. Smooth throughout ; culms thickened, succulent, 

 branched and geniculate, ascending from a procumbent base ; sheaths flattened ; 

 ligule ciliate; panicles terminal and lateral, compound, pyramidal, the slender 

 primary branches at length spreading; spikelets oppressed, lance-oval, acute (pale 

 green), lower glume broad, i to 4 the length of the upper; neutral flower little 

 longer than the perfect one. Brackish marshes and meadows; common 

 along the coast from Massachusetts southward : also along the Ohio and Mis- 

 sissippi. Aug. 



7. P. capillure, L. Culm upright, often branched at the base and form- 

 ing a tuft; leaves (large) and especially the flattened sheatlis very hirsute; panicle 

 pyramidal, capillary, compound and very loose (6' -12' long), the slender straight 

 branches somewhat reflexcd when old ; spikelets scattered on long pedicels, oblong- 

 ovoid and pointed; lower glume half the length of the neutral palca, which is 

 longer than the ovoid-ollong obtuse perfect flower. (^ Sandy soil and cultivated 

 fields everywhere. Aug., Sept. 



8. P. ailtumnalc, Bosc ! Culm ascending, very slender (1 high), branch 

 ing below ; leaves small (!' - 2' long, linear-lanceolate) and upper sheaths glabrous ; 

 panicle as in depauperate states of the last, but glabrous, except the strongly 

 bearded main axils, its capillary much elongated divisions mostly simple and 

 bearing solitary spindle-shaped spikelets; lower glume minute ; perfect flower nar- 

 rowly oblong or lance-oblong, acute, nearly equalling the lance-oblong obtusish up- 

 per glume and the neutral palea. 1J. ? (P. dichotomiflornm, Michx. 1) Sand- 

 hills, Mason County, Illinois (Mead), and southward. This well-marked spe- 

 cies is either rare, or has been generally overlooked. 



- *- Sterile flower staminate, of 2 palece ; lower glume litik or j shorter : spikelets 

 large (!$"- 2%'' long). 



9. P. Vil'gatlim, L. Very smooth; culms upright (3 -5 high) ; leaves 

 very long, flat; branches of the compound loose and large panicle (9' -2 long) at 

 length spreading or drooping; spikelets scattered, oval, pointed: glumes and 

 sterile palese pointed, usually purplish. 1J. Moist sandy soil; common, espe- 

 cially southward. Aug. 



10. P. am si I'll in. Ell. Nearly smooth, rigid ; culms (l high) sheathed 

 to the top ; leaves involute, glaucous, coriaceous, (he uppermost exceeding the contracted 

 panicle, the simple racemose branches of which arc oppressed, very smooth ; 

 spikclcts ovate, pointed (pale) ; lower glume little shorter than the sterile flow- 

 er. 1| Sandy shores, Connecticut (Barratt, Bobbins), Virginia, and south- 

 ward. Aug., Sept. 



^ * Panicle loosely spreading or diffuse, short. 



*- Lower (sterile) flower formed of 2 paleta (the upper one scarions and sometime 

 small and inconspicuous), neutral, except in 2Vb. 11, and OCCQ&'nMati# in j\u. ii. 

 where it is staminaie. 



