GRAMINE^E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 649 



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

 forms ; of which a shaggy-hairy and larger-flowered variety is 1'. ]>ubescens, 

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

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

 more slender forms) P. barlmlutum 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 

 baae, 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 ; s/iiLekts 3" - 1 h" long, oval-obovate, commonly pointed when young ; 

 the ovate lower glume one third the length of the 7 - 9-nerved upper one. (P. strictum, 

 Pursh. P. rectum, Iieem. $• 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. 



-i- -4- Lower sterile flower of a single paltt, and neutral. 



19. P. verruedsum, 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, $" 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. ECHLN6CHLOA, Beauv. Spikelets imbricated-spiked on the branches of 

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

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



20. P. Crcs-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. 

 nfspiDu.M (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 Avater ; possibly in- 

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



61. SETARIA, Beauv. Bristly Fox-tail Grass. (PI. 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. verticillXta, Beauv. Spike C3'lindrical (2' -3' long, pale green), 

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

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



