THE AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 37 



Panicum PEOLIFERUM. 



This specie« has a wide range of growth, beiug found in the ]N"orth- 

 ern and Western as well as the Southern States, growing late in the 

 season, generally in low waste grounds. The stems are flattened, erect- 

 ish, or decumbent, spreading and rooting at the lower joints. It is a 

 useful grass as helping out the supply of wild fodder, but does not pre- 

 sent particular promise for cultivation. But in the Southern States, 

 from South Carolina westward, there occurs a variety of this grass, 

 called Panicum proUferumj var. geniculatum^ or sprouting crab grass. 



It is an annual, growing in low moist ground. The stems are at first 

 erect, then becoming decumbent and spreading, frequently attaining a 

 length of 6 or 7 feet, bent and rooting at the lower joints. It has much 

 the same habit as the Faniciim texamim, but the stems are more flat- 

 tened and smoother 5 the leaves are smoother and longer. The stems 

 are sometimes nearly an inch thick at the base and very succulent. 

 The leaves are sometimes 2 feet long and half to three-fourths of an 

 inch wide. The lower joints give out numerous branches, which de- 

 velop flowering panicles that are partly inclosed in the large leaf- 

 sheaths. The main stem is also terminated by a diffuse planicle some- 

 times 2 feet long. Large specimens have a handsome appearance. 

 The spikelets are pale green, rarely purplish, about one line long. The 

 neutral flower is a little longer than the perfect one, the lower empty 

 glume broad and short, the upper acute and strongly seven-nerved. 

 Mr. Charles Mohr, of Mobile, says of it : 



In damp grassy places it prefers rich ground throughout the coast region. It com- 

 mences to vegetate vigorously in the hottest part of the summer, throwing out nu- 

 merous shoots from the joints, forming large-branched bushes. The foliage is rich 

 and tender, and the succulent, thick stems are sweet and juicy. After cutting, it 

 throws out numerous sprouts from the lower joints, which grow rapidly, so as to al- 

 low repeated cuttings until frost. It is through all stages of its growth much relished 

 by horses and cattle. • 



(Plate 8.) 



Panicum agrostoides. (Eed-top Panicum.) 



This is a perennial grass, commonly growing in large clumps in wet 

 meadows or on the muddy margins of lakes and rivers. It grows 4 to 

 6 feet high, is erect in habit, and develops its reddish panicles from 

 several of the joints as well as at the apex. The stem is somewhat flat- 

 tened and very smooth, as are the sheaths; the leaves are 1 to 2 feet 

 long, about half an inch wide, and somewhat rough on the margins and 

 midrib. The terminal panicle is 6 to 12 inches long, at first somewhat 

 close, but becoming quite open and diffuse. The lateral panicles are 

 shorter and partly inclosed by the sheath at the base. The branches 

 of the panicle are mostly 1 or 2 inches long, and rather densely 

 flowered nearly to the base. The spikelets are a little more than a line 

 long, on very short pedicels, mostly racemose on one side of the branches, 

 oblong, acute, the lower empty glume ovate, acute, half as long as the 



