Dt> ILANISAIS STATE BOABD OF JLGBICULTUBE. 



lines wide; the sheaths are glabrous, the throat hairy. The spikes are 7 to 12 in 

 number. The spiklets are 4-rowed, dense, orbicular and obtuse. Grows farther 

 south, but may occur in Kansas; it is not known to be important. 



11. Maesh Paspalum; P asp alum fiuitans, Kunth. — An annual smooth grass, grow- 

 ing in wet places; the leaves are lanceolate, flat, 3 to 8 lines wide; the numerous 

 spikes form a raceme. The grass is agriculturally unimportant. 



12. Slendeb Paspalum; Paspalum setaceum, Mx. — A perennial grass, ascend- 

 ing or decumbent, 1 to 2 feet long; the leaves are about 2 lines wide and the sheath, 

 clothed with long, soft spreading hairs. The spikes are mostly solitary on a long 

 peduncle, (spikelets v line wide), also 1 from each of the sheaths of the upper leaves 

 This grass forms but a small portion of the native forage. ( Plate No. 12.) 



13. Smooth Paspalum; Paspalum laeve, Mx. — This grows from 2 to 4 feet high, 

 and bears large, long leaves, which are smooth, or nearly so. The spikes at the top of 

 the culm are 3 to 5 in number and the spikelets are broadly 2-rowed, and over 1 

 line wide. This grass is said to be valuable in the South, though here it is but little 

 more important than the preceding. 



Eriochloa, H. B. K.— A small genus of grasses, with spikelets nearly sessile in 1 or 2 rows along 

 one side of the slender branches of a simple panicle. The spikelets have one perfect flower, and 

 two empty hairy, nearly equal outer glumes. There is a peculiar swelling of the pedicel just below 

 the spikelet. The perfect flower is much as in Paspalum, the flowering glume being obtuse, and some- 

 times pointed. 



14. Eriochloa punctata, Hamilt. — A perennial grass, with stem erect, and pubes- 

 cent above; the nodes also pubescent. The panicle is 4 to 6 inches long, consisting 

 of 6 to 15 alternate spikes, which are ^ to 1 inch long. This species is unimportant 

 except as contributing slightly to the native forage in the southwestern portion of 

 the State. 



Panicum, L.— A large genus, about 50 of which are American. They are, however, of no great 

 value. The spikelets are in panicles, racemes or spikes, and have one perfect terminal flower and 

 usually a second male or rudimentary one below. There are two outer empty glumes, one smaller than 

 the other, often very small or even wanting. The glume and palet of the terminal flower are usually 

 of a coriaceous texture and obtuse. The stigmas are usually purple. 



15. Smooth Panic-gbass; Panicum glabrum, Gaud. — This is an annual grass 

 sparingly introduced from Europe, but of no agricultural value. It has culms 5 to 

 12 inches long, bearing 2 to 6 widely diverging spikes. The upper glume equals 

 the flower. 



16. Ceab-gbass; Fingeb-gbass; Panicum sanguinale, L. — This species differs 

 from the preceding in having the upper glume but half the length of the flower 

 and the culms (1 to 2 feet high) bearing 4 to 14 spikes. It is an introduced annual 

 and very abundant as well as troublesome in carelessly cultivated ground — said to 

 be valuable in the South. ( Plate No. 16.) 



17. Two-edged Panic-gbass; Panicum anceps, Mx. — A perennial grass with a 

 flatfish, erect stem, 2 to 4 feet high, and smooth leaves a foot or more long. The 

 panicle is 6 to 12 inches long, the spikelets about l£ lines. It grows in neglected 

 or poor land and cannot be considered valuable. 



18. Red-top Panic-gbass ; Panicum agrostoides, Spreng. — The very smooth and 

 flattish culms are 4 to 6 feet high, the reddish panicles (at least the terminal one) 

 6 to 2 inches long; the spikelets are a little shorter than in the preceding. It is a 

 perennial grass usually growing in clumps in wet land. The leaves are large and 

 abundant. The grass yields fair hay if cut before flowering-time. 



19. Bbanching Panic-geass; Panicum proliferum, Lam. — A vigorous, stout, an- 

 nual grass with thickish, succulent, spreading, rooting at the lower joints, and ascend- 

 ing culms and many panicles. The sheaths are flattened and the ligule ciliate. 



