Tin: ( ; i{ A ss Ks ok T k n n kss k k. 61 



The panicle-branches are somewhat glandular-viscid as in /*. 

 visiidum. Rather common in open woods and borders of thickets, 

 usually in moist ground. June — July. Of no agricultural value. 

 The \Q.v'\e\.y isophyiium (Fig. 54) is only a depressed form of the 

 species with crowded leaves. 



24. Panicum laxiflorum Lam. 



Piatt' XIV. Fi^Mir«- .V,. 



A slender, tufted perennial, about a foot high, with rather long, 

 pale green leaves and loosely few-flowered ])anicles. Culms 

 smooth or sparingly pilose, six to eighteen inches high, much 

 branched near the base and more or less geniculate, often rooting 

 at the lower joints; nodes densely pilose, the hairs directed down- 

 wards. Sheaths shorter than the internodes, papillate-pilose with 

 spreading or reflexed hairs; ligule a fringe of long hairs; leaf-blade 

 erect, three to five inches long, three to five lines wide, the upper- 

 most scarcely smaller, narrowly lanceolate, long-acuminate- 

 pointed, abruptly narrowed at the base, ciliate along the minutely 

 serrulate margins and smooth or thinly pilose on the surfaces; 

 the lowermost leaves of the primary stem crowded, shorter and 

 broader than the others. Panicles two to three inches long, 

 finally.long exserted, the solitary branches nearly simple, pedicels 

 much longer than the spikelets. Spikelets ovate-elliptical obtuse, 

 about one line long; first glume one-sixth to one-fourth as long 

 as the pubescent, obtuse and nearly equal second and third glumes: 

 third glume with a small palea; fourth glume smooth, white and 

 minutelv apiculate at the rounded apex. Distinguished at once 

 from P. ciliatum, to which it is closely allied, by its longer and pro- 

 portionately narrower, erect leaves and larger and more loosely 

 flowered panicles. Dry or moist open woods. May — July. 



25. Panicum ciliatum Ell. 



Plate XIV. Figure 56. 



A densely tufted slender perennial, four to fifteen, usually six 

 to ten inches high, with short leaves and rather few-flowered dif- 

 fuse panicles. Culms much branched and more or less geniculate 

 near the base, smooth ; nodes smooth. Sheaths ciliate along the outer 

 margin; ligule a short fringe of hairs; leaf-blade one to three inches 

 long, two to six lines wide, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute, usu- 

 ally clasping at the more or less cordate base, ciliate along the mar- 

 gins, surfaces striate, smooth; uppermost leaf one-half to one and 

 one-half inches long. Panicle ovate-pyramidal, one to one and one- 

 half inches long, main axis and primary branches often pilose. 

 Spikelets about one line long; first glume one-fourth to one-half 

 as long as the spikelet; second and third glumes nearly equal, ob- 

 tuse seven-nerved, smooth or minutely pubescent, the third wnth a 

 small palea; flowering glume obscurely apiculate, minutely rough- 

 ened at maturity. 



Quite distinct from P. laxiflorum, which it resembles in its habit 

 of branching and thin, pale green leaves. The widely spreading 

 leaves are shorter and proportionately wider, the nodes and sheaths 



