Panicum. 



GRAMINEJ3. 



425 



*** Spikelcts scattered, in loose panicles. 



5. Panicum virgatum, Linn. Tall Smooth Panic-grass. 



Whole plant very smooth ; panicle diffuse, very large ; spikelets scattered ; flowers acumi- 

 nate, the lower one staminate, with two nearly equal palea;. — Linn. sp. 1 . p. 59 ; Michx. 

 fi.\. p. 48 ; MuM. gram. p. 120 ; Ell sk. 1. p. 120 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 147 ; Trin. diss. 2. 

 p. 190, and ic. gram. t. 228; Kunih, enum. 1. p. 100; Beck, hot. p. 396; Darlingt. fl. 

 Cest. p. 45. 



Perennial. Culm 3-5 feet high. Leaves very long, flat, of a yellowish tinge when old. 

 Panicle at first erect, finally spreading, often a foot or more in length. Spikelets nearly two 

 lines long ; the flowers a little diverging. Glumes acuminate ; the lower one nearly two thirds 

 the leng'h of the upper. Sterile flower usually bearing three well-formed stamens, with large 

 purple anthers ; the upper palea herbaceous. Perfect flower very smooth ; the stigmas purple. 

 Scales very short. 



Wet sandy banks and islands, particularly near the salt water ; sometimes found in rather 

 dry soils : frequent. Fl. August. This species beautifully illustrates the true structure of 

 the flowers in Panicum and other allied genera. The lower flower of the spikelet, instead of 

 being rudimentary or very imperfect, is here well developed, being furnished with two nearly 

 equal paleae and three perfect stamens : the inferior glume, also, is larger than usual in this 

 genus. 



G. Panicum latifolium, Linn. Broad-leaved Panic-grass, 



Culm mostly simple, retrorsely bearded at the joints ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, smooth, or, 

 with the sheaths, more or less pubescent ; panicle terminal, a little exseited, nearly simple, 

 pubescent ; spikelets (large) oblong-ovoid ; lower flower staminate, of 2 palea; ; the upper 

 palea somewhat herbaceous, nearly as long as the lower, acute. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 59 ; Michx. 

 fi.l.p. 49 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 68 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 119 ; Muhl. gram. p. 109 ; Torr. fl. 1. 

 p. 142 ; Trin. diss. 2. p. 207 ? and Pan. gen. I. c. p. 262 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 117 ; Beck, 

 hot. p. 394; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 47. P. Walteri, Poir. enc. suppl. 4. p. 282 ; Kunth, I. c. 



Root perennial, fibrous. Culm 1-2 feet high, simple or somewhat branching. Leaves 

 3-4 inches long and an inch or more in breadth, cordate and clasping at the base, commonly 

 smooth but often hairy, spreading horizontally : sheaths about half the length of the internodes, 

 ciliate at the throat or on th3 entire margin, often pubescent. Panicle about 2 inches long, 

 bearing usually but few spikelets, which are about a line and a half long ; the branches clothed 

 with a short soft pubescence. Lower glume ovate, loose ; upper one strongly nerved. Lower 

 flower with 3 perfect stamens. Perfect flower acute. 



Woods and moist thickets : frequent. Fl. June. 



[Flora — Vol. 2.] 



54 



