578 GRA,MINE^. (grass FAMILY.) 



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

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

 and southward. Aug. 



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



6. P. proliferum, Lam. SnoofA 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 i the length of the upper; neutral, flower Utile 

 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. capillare, L. Culm upright, often branched at the base and form- 

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

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

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

 0¥oid and pointed; lower glume half the length of the neutral palea, which is 

 longer than the ovoid-oblong obtuse perfect flower. (J; — Sandy soil and cultivated 

 fields evwywhere. Aug., Sept. 



8. Pt autumiialc, Bosc! Culmascending, very slender {l°h\gh), branch- 

 ing below ; leaves small (1' - 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. 1|. ? (P. dichotomiflorum, 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 staminaie, of 2 palece; lower glume nearly equalling it: spikelets 

 large (2" -2^" long). 



9. P. virgf^tum, L. Very smooth; culms upright (3° -5° high) ; leai-es 

 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. U — Moist sandy soil; common, espe- 

 cially southward. Aug. 



10. P. amarum, Ell. Nearly smooth, rigid ; culms (lj° high) sheathed 

 to the top ; leaves involute, glaucous, coj-iaceous, the uppermost exceeding the contracted 

 panicle, the simple racemose branches of which are appressed, very smooth ; 

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

 er. IJ. — Sandy shores, Connecticut (Barralt, iJo6?)i'ns), Virginia, and south- 

 ward. Aug., Sept. 



* * Panicle loosely spreading or diffuse, short. 

 *- Lower (sterile) flower formed of 2 palem [the upper one scarious ami sometimes 

 small and inconspicuous), neutral, except in No. 11, a7id occasionally in No. 14, 

 wliere it is staminaie. 



