202 



CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



long-ciliate at the rounded base, otherwise glabrous; panicles 8 to 12 cm. long, one- 

 fourth to one-third as wide, rather densely flowered, the branches ascending or 

 appressed, short spikelet-bearing branchlets in the axils; spikelets 1.4 to 1.6 mm. 

 (usually 1.5 mm.) long, 0.7 to 0.9 mm. wide, elliptic, obscurely pointed; first glume 

 one-fourth to one-third the length of the spikelet, obtuse or subacute; second glume 

 and sterile lemma equaling the fruit at maturity, pubescent or rarely glabrous; fruit 

 1.3 mm. long, 0.7 to 0.8 mm. wide, elliptic, slightly pointed. 



Autumnal form more or less reclining, branching after the matmity of the primary 

 panicle, the earlier branches elongated, ascending but not appressed, bearing exserted 

 panicles, the subsequent branchlets in short fascicles, 

 the blades much reduced, sometimes minutely pubes- 

 cent, overtopping the small ultimate panicles; winter 

 rosette appearing rather early, the blades glabrous or 

 nearly so. 



Specimens with spikelets 1.4 mm., or even 1.3 mm. 

 long, occur. The type of P. paudpilum Nash is such 

 a specimen, as are Chase 2333 and Hitchcock 553. In the 

 herbarium of the Philadelphia Academy are a number 

 of such specimens, some with spikelets only 1.3 mm. 

 long. But since no other character can be correlated with the smaller spikelets, 

 and since specimens with spikelets 1.5 mm. long are much more numerous, we are 

 unable to separate specifically the extremes of this species. 



It does not seem advisable to recognize as a subspecies the form with glabrous 

 spikelets. Besides the Texas plants, in which the spikelets are glabrous, similar 

 specimens have been collected in Delaware, namely, Canhy 4, Commons 340, and 

 Hitchcock 553. The Commons specimen consists of two plants, one with glabrous 

 and one with pubescent spikelets, but otherwise alike. 



Fig. 205. — P. spretum. From 

 type specimen in Mahlentoerg 

 Herbarium. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Wet and usually sandy soil, mostly near the coast, Maine to Texas; also in northern 

 Indiana. 



Maine: York County, Fernald 510. ^ 



New Hampshire: East Kingston, Eaton in 1898 (Biltmore Herb.). 

 Massachusetts: Essex County, Conant in 1881; Dedham, Bartlett 807, 

 Connecticut: Waterford, Graves 



80, 87; East Lyme, Graves 157. 

 Rhode Island: Kingston, Piper 



in 1907. 

 New York: Riverhead, Bicknell 



in 1905, Peck 4. 

 New Jersey: Atsion, Chase 3551, 



3569; Bear Swamp, Stone 2; 



Wildwood, Bicknell in 1897. 

 Pennsylvania: Westchester, Win- 

 die 2 (Hitchcock Herb.). 

 Indiana: Dune Park, Hill 128 in 



1906, Umbach 1799; Miller, 



Pepoon in 1898; Michigan City, Hill 162 in 1906. 

 Delaware: Cape Henlopen, Commons 340; Townsend, Canhy in 1891, 



Commons 348; Lewes, Hitchcock 553. 

 Maryland: College Park, Novik in 1907. 



Virginia: Cape Henry, Chase 2333, 5421; Lynn Haven, Hitchcock 378, 379 

 North Carolina: Wilsons Mills, Chase 3093. 



Fig. 206.— Distribution of F. spretum. 



Milton, 



