AMERICAN GRASSES DESCRIBED BY LINNAEUS. 119 



Panicum hirtellum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 870. 1759. 



The type, from "Br," is Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) Roem. & Schult., and is more 

 fully described in Amoen. Acacl. 5: 391. 1759. The axes of the spikes are hispid, as 

 also the spikelets, but not the axis of the inflorescence. The awns are about 1 cm. long. 



Panicum colonum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 870. 1759. 



There "are two sheets in the herbarium marked by Linnaeus, one being from "Br." 

 Both are P. colonum as generally understood, though Munro states that one is P. 

 crusgalli. I should consider the specimen from Browne to be the type, as it answers 

 better to Linnaeus's description. Linnseus cites Sloane's plate 64, figure 2, but does 

 not use his diagnosis, hence Sloane's plant is not the type. 



Panicum reptans L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: S70. 1759. 

 This name should rej^lace P. grossarium, as indicated below under that title. 



Panicum grossarium L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 871. 1759. 



No specimen or locality is cited here by Linnaeus but the plant is more fully described, 

 later, in his list of Jamaica plants. The specimen in the herbarium is from "Br." 

 The word "reptans" was written on the sheet and then crossed out. Panicum reptans 

 L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 870. 1759, has been regarded as of uncertain identity. The 

 description applies to this specimen and, as this name is omitted in all the later works 

 of Linnseus, it is quite probable that he described the same plant twice. The descrip- 

 tion of Panicum reptans, placed between P. hirtellum and P. sanguinale, is as follows: 

 "P. panicula racemis simplicibus alternis secundis, flosculis geminis muticis; pilis 

 rarioribus involucratis." On the next page is the character of Panicum grossarium 

 (between P. miliaceum and P. latifolium): "P. panicula ramis simplicibus, floribus 

 geminis; pedicello altero brevissimo; altero longitudine floris." The specimen is 

 not what has been considered Panicum grossarium by most authors but is Panicum 

 prostratum Lam. 111. Gen. 1 : 171. 1791. I propose then to take up the name Panicum 

 reptans L. for the grass which has been known as P. prostratum Lam. Linnseus's de- 

 scription quoted above applies perfectly, even to the occasional long hairs on the 

 rachis. I am assuming that Richter is correct in placing the date of publication of 

 the tenth edition of the Systema in May, 1759, and the dissertation entitled "Pugillus 

 Jamaicensium plantarum" in December, 1759. In the latter work P. grossarium is 

 described, but P. reptans is not mentioned. 



The plant which has been called Panicum grossarium and for which a different 

 name must be taken up is Panicum adspersum Trin. Gram. Pan. 146. 1826. 



Panicum divaricatum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 871. 1759. 



The specimen is from " Br." It is the small-leaved clambering form which is also 

 found in southern Florida. 



Milium punctatum L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 2: 872. 1759. 



The type, from "Br," is Eriochloa punctata (L.) Hamil. Awn about 1 mm. long; 

 axis pubescent but not villous; no conspicuous hairs around the base of the spikelet. 



Agrostis mexicana L. Mant. 1: 31. 1767. 

 Cultivated, "H U." This is Muhlenbergia mexicana (L.) Trin. 



Agrostis virginica L. Sp. PL 63. 1753. 



The Linnsean specimen, which is the type, is Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth. Lin- 

 naeus cites after his own diagnosis, "Clayt. virg. 507." Clayton's specimen is the 

 same species. This number is not mentioned by Gronovius in the first edition of his 

 Flora Virginica. In the second edition (page 14. 1762) it occurs under Uniola sub- 

 spicata, etc. This number of Clayton is cited by Linnaeus under Uniola spicata also. 



a Amoen. Acad. 5: 392. 1759. 



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