40 THE AGRICULTUEAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



spikelets are usually short-stalked, variable in size, but usually about 

 two lines long, ov^ate, sharp-pointed, commonly purplish. The lower 

 empty glume is from half to two-thirds as long as the upper, both are 

 pointed, sometimes long pointed ; the lower glume is three nerved, the 

 upper one five to seven nerved ; the lower flower is male, nearly as 

 long as the upper glume, its glume five to seven-nerved and acdte, its 

 palet one-quarter shorter, thin, two-nerved. The perfect flower is 

 shorter than the lower one, smooth, oblong, and obtuse. This is a good 

 and prolific grass if cut when young; when ripe it becomes harsh and 

 unpalatable. It forms a constituent of the native grasses of the prai- 

 ries, particularly in moist localities. (Plate 12.) 



Panigum divaricatum. (Cane-like Panicum.) 



A tropical and subtropicail species found in our country only in Flor- 

 ida and the Gulf States near the coast. It is a shrubby plant, the 

 culms being woody and persistent, like the small kind of cane. Only 

 the leaves and young shoots are eaten by cattle. The larger stems are 

 of the size of a goose quill. It is smooth and decumbent, with short, 

 spreading branches. The leaves are lanceolate, 2 to 3 inches long by 

 four to five lines wide, gradually pointed. The panicles terminate the 

 branches, are 2 to 4 inches long, with comparatively short divergent 

 branches and few flowers. The spikelets are obovate, tumid, about 

 two lines long, smooth. In the districts where it grows this grass may 

 be utilized, as an analysis of its composition gives a very good result. 

 (Plate 13.) 



Panicum gibbum. 



A perennial species, growing in swamps and low wet ground in the 

 Southern States, from North Carolina to Florida and to Texas. The 

 stem is decumbent, branching, and rooting at the lower joints. The 

 panicle is 3 to 5 inches long, and narrow from the erect, appressed 

 branches. The spikelets are obloug or lance oblong, rather obtuse, al- 

 though narrowed above. The lower glume is small, about one-fourth 

 as long as the upper one, which is strongly eleven-nerved, swollen at 

 the base, and twice as long as the smooth, fertile flower. The leaves 

 are smooth or rarely somewhat hairy, half an inch broad and 6 to 8 

 inches long. The whole i)lant is of a deep green color. The flowers 

 drop off soon after flowering. This grass, if it occurs in abundance, 

 would be of considerable value, as it furnishes a good deal of nutri- 

 tious matter. (Plate 14.) 



Panicum obtusum. (Obtuse-flowered Panicum.) 



A perennial species of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It has a 

 strong, running root-stock, which at intervals sends up flowering culms, 

 which are about 1^ to 2 feet high, very smooth, pale green, with nu- 

 merous smooth, narrow, erect, stifl', long-pointed leaves, and a narrow 

 linear panicle, 3 to 4 inches long, com^DOsed of about half a dozen 



