MANUAL OF THE GRASSES OF THE WEST INDIES 263 
24. Panicum amaruilum Hitche. and Chase, Contrib. U. S. Natl. 
Herb. 15: 96. f. 87. 1910. Virginia. 
Plant glabrous throughout and somewhat glaucous, growing in 
large bunches; culms 1 to 2 m tall, robust; blades flat, more or less 
involute toward the slender tip, 20 to 50 cm long, 5 to 12 mm wide; 
panicle slightly nodding, many- 
flowered, compact, 15 to 30 cm 
long; spikelets ovate, acuminate, 
4 to 5 mm long (fig. 219). 
Sandy seashores, southeastern 
United States, Mexico, Bahamas, 
and Cuba. 
BerMupa: Collins 139. 
BawaAMas: Great Bahama, 
Britton and Millspaugh 2739. 
New Providence, Britton and 
Brace 307, 493 (all in Field Mus. 
Herb.). 
Cupa: Bahia Honda, Kkman 
17290, 17291. Cayo Paredon 
Grande, Shafer 2735. Cayo 
Sabinal, Ekman 15500. Bahia de FIGURE 219.—Panicum amarulum. Two views 
Manatt, Léon 16027. of spikelet, and floret, X 10 (type). 
25. Panicum petersonii Hitchc. and Ekman, sp. nov.” 
Perennial; culms erect, tough, firm, glabrous, sparingly branched, 
about 2 m tall, the nodes not swollen; sheaths glabrous, passing in- 
sensibly into the blade, the 
lower coriaceous; ligule a very 
short densely ciliate membrane; 
blades erect, coriaceous, thick, 
crescent-shaped in cross section 
toward base, the edges sharp 
but smooth, gradually narrowed 
toward the tip and becoming 
flat with scabrous edges, the 
midrib appearing to occupy 
most of the tissue, 1 m long or 
more, the apex fine and scab- 
rous, the middle part of the 
blade 2 to 3 mm wide; panicles 
terminal and axillary, the ter- 
minal ovoid, open but rather 
densely flowered, 15 to 25 cm 
long, the axis scabrous, the 
branches rather closely set, 
more or less fascicled, ascending, 
floriferous nearly to the base; 
spikelets short-pediceled and 
rather crowded on the branches 
FIGURE 220.—Panicum petersonii. Portion of panicle of the second or third order, 
x 1; spikelet and floret, X 10(type).S~C« WO, glabrous, rather blunt, 
about 2.3 mm long; first glume 
83 Culmi erecti duri 2 m alti; vaginae glabrae; laminae durae rigidae erectae angustae 1m longae 2-3 mm 
latae; panicula nonnihil patens 15-25 em longa 10 em lata; spiculae 2.3 mm longae glabrae obtusae; gluma 
prima circa 1 mm longa 3-nervis; gluma secunda 5-nervis; lemma sterile 5-nerve, quam gluma secunda paulo 
longius, palea et staminibus praeditum; lemma fertile lemma sterile aequans. 
