306 MISC. PUBLICATION 243, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
Panicum chauviniw Steud., Syn. Pl. Glum. 1:68. 1854. Guade- 
oupe. 
Panicum dwaricatum var. stenostachyum Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. Ind. 
551. 1864. Jamaica. 
Usually glabrous throughout except the margin of the sheaths; 
culms woody, much branched, clambering over shrubs to the height 
of 3 to 4 m, the main culm strong, as much as 6 mm in diameter, the 
main branches often fascicled, the vigorous secondary sterile shoots 
usually strongly divaricate or zigzag; sheaths sometimes hispid on 
the collar; ligule inconspicuous; blades narrowly lanceolate, 5 to 12 
cm long, 5 to 15 mm wide, or on the vigorous sterile shoots much 
larger, narrowed at the base, gradually acuminate, scabrous on the 
margin and sometimes slightly on the surface, the older ones deciduous 
from the sheaths, the basal portion of the fertile shoots bearing the old 
sheaths but otherwise naked; panicles terminating the main culm 
and the fertile branches, ovate or oblong, 5 to 20 em long, loosely 
flowered, the branches distant, spreading, or often reflexed, the axes 
angled, scabrous, flexuous, the lower usually 2 to 4 cm (sometimes as 
much as 10 cm) long, the main branches ordinarily 5 to 10 flowered; 
spikelets ovoid, about 4 mm long (fig. 290). 
Among shrubs at low altitudes, southern Florida to Central and 
South America; throughout the West Indies. Panicum divaricatum 
and P. sloanei were included by Richard” under the name P. glutino- 
sum. In Cuba called “pito de bejuco.”’ 
The commonest West Indian species of the genus, growing on all 
the islands, especially near the coast. 
8. Lasiacis sloanei (Griseb.) Hitche., Bot. Gaz. 51: 302. 1911. 
Panicum latifolium Hamilt., Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occ. 10. 1825. Not 
P. latifolrum L., 1753. Antilles. 
Panicum sloanei Griseb., Fl. Brit. W. Ind. 551. 1864. Jamaica. 
Climbing to a height of 3 or 4 m, forming a strong central cane; 
branches solitary or 2 or 3 together, elongate; blades parchmentlike 
in texture at maturity, commonly 12 to 15 cm long and 2 to 3 cm 
wide, narrowed into a very short pubescent petiole; panicles commonly 
as much as 20 cm long, nearly as wide, the branches rather rigid. 
The spikelets are larger in this species than in any other of the genus 
in the region. 
Climbing among bushes and small trees, West Indies to Central 
and South America. 
Cusa: Sierra Mendoza, Shafer 11147. Sierra de Anafe, Walson 
11421. Valestina, Wright 3878. Santiago de los Bafios, Léon 4563, 
5148. Mariel, Hkman 12853. Las Pozas, Ekman 12743. Guanajay, 
Ekman 13035; Baker 4587. Camoa Hills, Léon 766. Jamaica, Léon 
1969. Cojimar, Léon 1973. San Antonio, Hitchcock 128. Arigua- 
nabo, Léon 9751. Almendares River, Léon 12463. Malanga, Rugel 
872. Boca de Canasi, Léon 13171. Loma Descada, Hkman 15319. 
Soledad, Jack 5187. Amaro, Léon 94385. Mayari Arriba, Ekman 
15851. Isla de Pinos, Britton and Wilson 15134. 
JAMAICA: Montego Bay, Ridley 35; Mazon and Killip 1673. Troy, 
Eitchcock 9801; Harris 12614, 12615. Ipswich, Hitchcock 9606. 
Ewarton, Hitcheock 9413. Bog Walk, Mazon 10502; Hitchcock 9305 
(Amer. Gr. Nat. Herb. 591). Ferry River, Harris 11325. Halls 
1 Richard, in Sagra, Hist. Cuba 11: 307. 1850 
