Panicum. 



GRAMINEiE. 



42<> 



**** Spilcclcls somewhat racemose on the branches of the panicle. 



13. Panicum agrostoides, Spreng. (PI. CXLVIII.) A grostis-like Panic-grass. 



Culm compressed, smooth; leaves very long; panicles lateral and terminal, pyramidal, 

 spreading ; the spikelets ovoid -oblong, acute, appressed and somewhat racemose on the 

 branchlets ; lower flower neuter, of 2 nearly equal palea?. — Spreng. pag. 2. p. 4 ; Muhl. 

 gram. p. 119 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 146 ; Beck, hot. p. 396 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 48 ; Trin. 

 ic. 22. t. 261, and Pan. gen. 1. c. p. 178. P. elongatum, Pursh, Jl. 1. p. 69 (not of Poir.). 

 P. agrostidiforme, Lam. enc. 4. p. 748?; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 94. 



Perennial. Culm 2-3 feet high, smooth at the nodes. Leaves forming a tuft at the base 

 of the culm, 2-4 lines wide : ligule very short, obliquely truncate. Panicles usually several, 

 the terminal one largest : branches mostly in pairs or somewhat fasciculate, a little flexuous, 

 finally horizontal. Spikelets three fourths of a line long, mostly purplish, somewhat crowded 

 and one-sided, smooth. Lower glume about half the length of the upper, very acute ; the 

 upper one longer than the neuter flower, strongly 5-nerved. Upper palea of the neuter flower 

 rather herbaceous, acute. Palea? of the perfect flower slightly bearded at the tip. 



Wet meadows : common near New-York. Fl. July — August. 



14. Panicum proliferum, Lam. Proliferous Panic-grass. 



Whole plant smooth ; culm assurgent or procumbent, branching and geniculate at the base; 

 panicles terminal and lateral, compound ; spikelets somewhat racemose on the branchlets ; 

 abortive flower without an upper palea. — ham. enc. 4. p. 747 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 68 ; Torr. 

 fl. 1. p. 149 ; Beck, hot. p. 396 ; Darlingt. Jl. Cest. p. 49 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 100; Trin. 

 Pan. gen. 1. c. p. 266. P. miliaceum, Walt. fl. Car. p. 72. P. dichotomiflorum, Michx. 

 fl. 1. p. 48. P. geniculatum, Muhl. gram. p. 123. 



Annual. Culm 1-3 feet long, thick and succulent. Leaves 8-12 inches or more in 

 knglh, and half an inch wide. Sheaths a little hairy at the throat. Panicles large and pyra- 

 midal ; the branches much divided, straight and capillary. Lower glume very broad, rather 

 obtuse ; upper one acute, about 7-nerved. Abortive flower without any trace of an upper 

 palea. Perfect flower shorter than the glumes, acute, smooth. Anthers orange. Scales oblong, 

 entire. 



Wet meadows and borders of rivers, particularly in sandy brackish soils ; sometimes in dry 

 places. Fl. August - September. Cattle are very fond of this grass. 



