THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 31 



DESCRIPTION OF GRASSES. 



Paspalum, LiiiD. 



Flowers in narrow, mostly linear, spikes, of which there may be one, 

 or several crowded at the summit of the stem, or they may be more or 

 less numerous, and arranged along the general peduncle. The spike- 

 lets are mostly obtuse and arranged in one or two rows on each side of 

 the generally elevated crest or midrib of the flattened rhachis. The 

 spikelets contain each one perfect flower inclosed within two outer mem- 

 branaceous glumes 5 rarely one of the outer glumes mu3h reduced or 

 wanting. The glume of the perfect flower, called the flowering glume, 

 is more or less convex or rounded on the back, usually thick and indu- 

 rated, and incloses the shorter palet, which is of similar texture with 

 the three stamens and two distinct i>lumose styles. 



This genus has its range principally in the Southern States. They 

 are mostly perennials, varying much in form and habit. Some are tall 

 and erect, some decumbent or spreading, and others have the habit of 

 sending out i)r©strate runners which take root at short intervals and 

 thus spread and form dense patches. Several species may often be 

 found in the same field. Professor Phares, of the Agricultural and Me- 

 chanical College of Mississippi, says : 



They are all succuleut, tender, nutritious, hardy, thrifty, and relished by all grass- 

 eating animals. They fill the soil with a matting of roots an«l cover the surface densely 

 with luxuriant foliage from early spring till autumnal frosts. 



Paspalum laeye. (Smooth paspalum.) 



This species grows from 2 to 4 feet high. The stem and leaves 

 are smooth orsmoothish, the lower leaves long and firm, the upper ones 

 shorter and distant. Xear the top of the culm are thr'ee to five slender 

 spreading spikes, each from 2 to 3 inches long and 1 to 2 inches distant. 

 There are a few lougish hairs at the base of the spikes where they sepa- 

 rate from the stem. The spikelets, or what becomes the seed, are oval, 

 smooth, about one-tenth of an inch long, close together in two rows, 

 which are wider than the narrow, slightly wavy rhachis. 



Professor Phares (above quoted) says he has a neighbor who has been 

 feeding this grass for twenty-five years : and for many years has had a 

 meadow of it from which without ever having seeded, he annually mows 

 about 2 tons of hay per acre. It should be cut before the seeds get 

 ripe enough to fall off'. (Plate 1.) 



Paspalum dilitatum. (Hairy- flowered paspalum.) 



This species is quite similar to the preceding, but taller and stouter. 

 The culms are from a thick perennial rootstock, erect, 3 to 5 feet high, 

 smooth, and with three to five leaves from as many smooth, purplish 

 joints. The leaves at the base of the culm are numerous, about a foot 



