122 MIDDLESEX FLORA. 



P. virgatum, L. 



Concord (E. S. Hoar) ; and common near salt water. 



P. latifolium, L. 



Not uncommon. 



P. clandestinum, L. 



Townsend, Lowell, Medford, Concord, et al. Not uncommon. 



P. viscidum. Ell. 

 Arlington, Aug. 31, 1881 (C. E. Perkins). 



P. scoparium, Lam. (P. pauciflorum. Ell., Man.) 

 Chelmsford (Dr. C. W. Swan) ; Reading (C. E. Perkins) ; Wal- 

 tham, abundant (Walter Deane) ; Wakefield (F. S. Collins). 



P. dichotomum, L. 



Dr. C. W. Swan, who has made a special study of this perplexing 



species (or group of species), has kindly contributed the result of 



his investigations of the county forms. 

 "The following are the principal forms found within the county 



limits, some of them being considered distinct species : 

 a. Low, tufted, spreading, slender, geniculate, branching, hairy, 



with small, simple little-stalked or partly sheathed panicles, and small 



diffuse spikelets. (P. dichotomum,L.,P. nodiflorum,Lam.) Common. 

 6. Similar but taller, more upright, less branched; panicles more 



stalked. Forms of a., and approaching c. and/. Common. 



c. Slender, tufted, light green, growing in woods, with spreading, 

 narrow, tapering leaves, nearly straight culms, simple short-stalked 

 panicles, and small scattered spikelets; nearly smooth, but the 

 lower nodes sometimes aunularly bearded. Not uncommon. 



d. Densely tufted, hairy, with straight culms, numerous narrow 

 erect leaves, small panicles, with sheathed stalks and small scattered 

 spikelets. Wilmington and Maiden (F,. S. Collins). Also at 

 Gloucester. 



e. Larger, hairy, with wider, more spreading leaves and larger pani- 

 cles, growing in rich soil. Wilmington (F. S. Collins.) 



/. Tall, erect, little tutted, stoutish or sometimes rather slender, 

 smooth, with spreading or ascending leaves, loug-stalked panicles 

 numerously flowered, the spikelets larger, about a line in length,, 

 obovate, elliptical, and extending well down upon the rather virgate 

 branches. Not infrequent in rather moist soil. 



g. A well marked, stoutish, thick-leaved form of f, with nodes 

 strongly and conspicuously bearded, but otherwise smooth, has 

 not been reported from the county, but should be looked for. 

 Specimens have been received from Nantucket and New Jersey. 



h. A large form of /, with largest leaves 4i inches by 5 lines.. 

 In moist soil at Wilmington (Dr. C. W. Swan). 



