THK (iKASMKS OF TkNNKSSKK. 55 



sometimes ciliate near the base. Panicle two to four inches long, 

 ovate-pyramidal; branches capillary and compound to the base. 

 Spikelets smooth, about three-fourths of a line lonj^. Common in 

 open woods; May and June. 



The leaves of the branches are much smaller than those of the 

 primary stem, and more crowded, and the lateral panicles are 

 small and few-flowered. Michaux characterized this species as a 

 small slender p^rass with the sparingly-branched culms bearded at 

 the nodes, smooth narrowly-lanceolate leaves, sheaths a little 

 pilose at the throat, small capillary panicles and short-ovate 

 spikelets. (Mich. Flor. Ror. Amer. I., p. 49.) 



32 Panicum ramulosum Michx. 



riate XV. Fif^nire VA). 



A weak, slender, branching grass, with glabrous culms and 

 sheaths. Nodes somewhat thickened, naked. Leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, spreading, smooth, sparingly long-pilose near the 

 base, subciliate. Panicle small, loose, capillary. Spikelets small, 

 ovate-obtuse, all long pedicelled. In woods. 



The above characters, drawn from Michaux (Flor. Bor. Am. I., 

 p. 50 [1803 J ) are those of the later stage of growth of the species. 

 I am unable to do more than guess at its identity with some of our 

 specimens. It may be a variety of P. nitiduvi. 



2,1. Panicum nodiflorum Lam. 



Plate XV. Figure 59. 



Panicles very small, lateral and terminal, glumes ovate, sub- 

 pubescent, leaves narrow and rather short (Lam. Encycl. Meth. 

 IV. p. 744). Stem very slender, about a foot high, branched. 

 Lateral branches very short, leafy, and each terminated by a 

 small panicle which appears to be lateral. The leaves of the 

 branches are narrow, rather numerous, divergent, pilose near the 

 base and at the entrance of the sheath. Besides the lateral 

 panicles there is a terminal one which does not differ very much 

 from those of the brancnes. These panicles are lax and few-flow- 

 ered. The spikelets are pedicellate, small, oval, and pubescent. 



Lamarck questions whether this species is truly distinct from 

 P. dichotomum. 



10. SETARIA Beauv. Agrost. 113 (1S12). 



Spikelets as in Panicum, but surrounded at the base by few or 

 many persistent, awn-like bristles (aborted branches) which spring 

 from the pedicels below the articulation of the spikelets. Inflor- 

 escence a densely many-flowered, cylindrical, or somewhat inter- 

 rupted, spike-like panicle. Annuals with flat leaves and terminal, 

 bristly spike-like panicles. 



Species about ten, in the warmer regions of the world, some cul- 

 tivated for their grain or for quick grown fodder. Ours all intro- 

 duced as weeds or escaped from cultivation. 



