HITCHCOCK AND CHASE — NORTH AMERICAN PANICUM. 



61 



axis and branches sparsely pilose, the numerous capillary, scabrous branchlets bearing 

 long-pediceled spikelets toward their ends; spikelets 2 to 2.5 mm. long, 0.8 to 0.9 

 mm. wide, elliptic; first glume about half the length of the spikelet, acute, 5 to 

 7-nerved; second glume and sterile lemma equal, more or less acuminate beyond the 

 fruit, the palea of the sterile floret wanting; fruit about 1.5 mm. long, 0.7 to 0.8 mm. 

 wide, elliptic. 



This common and widely distributed species is variable, occasional specimens 

 approaching or intergrading with each of its closely allied species. Thus Bush 3318, 

 Chase 2008, and V. H Chase 183 are in- 

 termediate between this and P. phila- 

 delphicum; Bush 4138, Gattinger, Nash- 

 ville, Tenn., in 1882, and Steele 243, 

 between this and P. gattingeri; Bebb 

 2917 and Chase 1480 approach P. flexile, 

 and Blankinship, Huntsville, Okla- 

 homa in 1896, and Griffiths 15 and 120 

 approach P. barbipulvinatum. Besides 

 these there is a group of rather low, 

 freely branching specimens with fewer- 

 flowered, divaricately branched pani- 

 cles forming as much as two-thirds the 

 entire height of the plant, and acuminate spikelets 2.4 to 2.6 mm. long, tending to 

 be in twos as in P. philadelphicum. These are the following and are not cited in the 

 general distribution. Maine: Westbrook, Richer 975; Massachusetts: South Hadley, 

 Cook in 1887; Pennsylvania: Williamsport, Small & Heller in. 1890; New York: 

 Verona, Eaberer in 1900; Illinois: Chicago, Nelson 3000. 



A Florida specimen, Combs 665, has exceptionally turgid spikelets 2.5 mm. long. 



Fig. 43. Distribution of P. capillare. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Open ground, fields and waste places, Maine to Dakota and Colorado, south to 

 Florida and Texas; also introduced in the Bermudas. 

 Maine: Bangor, Knight 65. 

 New Hampshire: Jaffrey, Robinson 396. 

 Vermont: Manchester, Day in 1898. 



Massachusetts: Boston, Hitchcock in 1903 (Hitchcock Herb.). 

 Connecticut: South Glastonbury, Wilson 1249. 

 New York: New Hannibal, Pearce in 1883; Oxford, Coville in 1884. 

 Ontario: Gait, Herriot 69; Kingston, Fowler in 1897; Wilmot Center, Umbach 



in 1899; Windsor, Macoun 26317; Sarnia, Morris A 171; Belleville, Macoun in 



1864. 

 New Jersey: Stockholm, Van Sickle in 1895. 



Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Scribner 48; Smith 110; Easton, Porter in 1894. 

 Ohio: Berea, Watson in 1897; St. Marys, Wetzstein in Kneucker Gram. Exs. 189; 



Columbus, Kellerman 6765. 

 Illinois: Chicago, Bebb 2917, Chase 1480; Naperville, Umbach in 1898; Roberts, 



Wilcox 109; Mokena, Chase 2008; Wady Petra, V. H. Chase 125 in 1897, 183, 



774. 

 Michigan: Port Austin, Morris A 226. 



Wisconsin: Sauk City, Luders in 1885; Ashland, Hitchcock 5099, 5111. 

 Manitoba: Killarney, Macoun 13225. 

 Minnesota: Spicer, Frost in 1892; Fort Snelling, Mearns 756; Montevideo, 



Moyer 43. 



