TlIK (fHASSKS OF TkN-NKSSKK. 4ti 



In the Tennessee specimens the culms are more leafy and the 

 panicles more pyramidal than in specimens from S<juth Carolina 

 and Florida, and the panicle-branches are widely spreading or de- 

 flexed. The much-branched autumnal state of this grass was 

 named P. neufanthum by Dr. Vasey. 



20. Panicum depauperatum Muhl. 



Plate XIII. Fi^nire 49. 



Densely cespitose, with slender culms six to eighteen inches 

 high, and very narrow long erect leaves. Culms simple or finally 

 bri;nched near the base, the branches flower-bearing; nodes usually 

 bearded. vSheaths smooth or more or less densely pilose, with soft 

 spreading hairs; ligule a fringe of short hairs; leaf-blade one to 

 two lines wide, three to eight inches long, very acute, often invo- 

 lute, at least when dry, scabrous and sometimes pilose, at least 

 near the base. Panicle one to four inches long, nearly simple, 

 loosely few-flowered, the solitary branches ascending or erect and 

 scabrous. Spikelets one to two lines long (usually one and one- 

 half lines) ovate, acutish, smooth; first glume about one-fourth the 

 length of the second and third, which are prominently seven- to 

 nine-nerved and acute, the third with a small thin palea, fourth 

 glume smooth rounded-obtuse, a little shorter than the second and 

 third. Dry sterile hills and open woods, common. May to June. 

 In the form with pilose sheaths the spikelets are usually smaller 

 than in the smooth form. 



21. Panicum commutatura Schultes. 



Plate XIII. Figure uO. 



A rather slender, branching perennial one to two and one-half 

 feet high, with usually smooth, broad, flat leaves and diffuse pani- 

 cles. Culms smooth or closely and minutely pubescent, especially 

 near the nodes; the nodes often bearded wiih short appressed 

 hairs. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, ciliate along the outer 

 margin; ligule very short and ciliate-fringed; leaf-blade two to 

 four inches long, one-fourth to one inch wide, broadly lanceolate 

 or ovate, acute, ciliate along the margins near the cordate-clasping 

 base, surfaces smooth or minutely pubescent. Leaves of the 

 branches often broader and always more crowded than those of the 

 primary stem. Panicle two to five inches long, lax, the capillary 

 branches widely spreading, naked below; pedicels scabrous, much 

 longer than the spikelets. Spikelets one and one-half lines long, 

 ovate-elliptical, obtuse; first glume about one-third the length of 

 the others, obtuse or acute; second and third glumes broadly ovate, 

 seven-nerved, nearly equal, pubescent, slightly exceeding the 

 smooth fourth glume. The third glume has a small palea. Open 

 woods, common. June — July. 



The leaves of this species are many-nerved, rather thin, and often 

 purple-tinged. They are quite variable in size, but always broader 

 than in P. nitidum or P. dichotomum, and the spikelets are larger 

 than in these species. The panicle is more compound and the 



