June, 1914.] 
The Panicums of Ohio. 
349 
30. Spikelet inch or more long. 32. 
30. Spikelet less than Y% inch long. 31. 
31. Spikelet less than Jg in long. Panicum polynnthes. (15.) 
31. Spikelet more than Jg inch long. Panicum commutatum. (28). 
32. Leaf sheaths mostly pappilose-hispid; nodes glabrous or short 
pubescent. Panicum clandestinum. (31). 
32. Leaf-sheaths glabrous or soft-pubescent. 33. 
33. Nodes glabrous. Panicum latifolium. (29). 
33. At least the lower nodes pubescent or bearded. 34. 
34. Lower surface of the leaf blade velvety-pubescent; leaf-sheaths 
hairy. Panicum boscii molle. (30a). 
34. Lower surface of the leaf blade not velvety-pubescent. 35. 
35. Panicle narrow, its branches appressed, rarely a little spreading; 
upper nodes at least, not bearded. Panicum xanthophysum. . (26). 
35. Panicle open, its branches spreading; the nodes appressed-pubes- 
cent. Panicum boscii. (30). 
SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS. 
1. Panicum agrostoides Spreng. Agrostis-like Panic-grass. 
An erect, rather stout, glabrous, perennial, 1/J-3H feet high; 
sheathes loose; blades flat, inches long, inch wide; 
inflorescence a panicle, purplish, oblong-ovate, 6-12 inches long, 
stiffly ascending, parts of the panicle densely flowered; spikelets 
crowded, a few hairs on the short pedicel; second empty glume and 
lemma of the staminate flower sub-equal. Along shores. Erie 
county. 
2. Panicum stipitatum Nash. Long Panic-grass. A branch¬ 
ed perennial 3-5 feet high; leaf-blade 1 foot long, often purplish, 
acuminate, and scabrous; inflorescence a pyramidal, purplish 
panicle, 4-12 inches long, more open than in the proceeding 
species; spikelets secund, acuminate, crowded, second empty 
glume and lemma of the staminate flower equal; the outer empty 
glume about § as long as the second; no hairs at the base of the 
spikelet. North-eastern Ohio tc Lorain, Fairfield and Colum¬ 
biana. 
3. Panicum virgatum L. Tall Smooth Panic-grass. A 
tall tufted perennial from a creeping rootstock; 1 - 24 ^ feet tall, 
glabrous. Leaves long-acuminate, flat, 1 foot long, inches 
wide, narrowed toward the base, rough on the margin; panicle 
erect or spreading, 6-20 inches high and about as wide; spikelets 
ovate, acuminate; outer empty glume acuminate, half as long as 
the spikelet, 3-5 nerved; second empty glume longer than the 
other glumes, 5-7 nerved, and exceeding the fruit. Low ground, 
salt marshes or prairies. Variable. General. 
4. Panicum dichotomiflorum Mx. Spreading Panic-grass. 
A glabrous, branching annual, becoming decumbent and geni¬ 
culate. Sheathes loose, glabrous and somewhat flattened; leaves 
6-20 inches long, inch wide, scabrous above or on the 
margin; panicle diffuse 4-16 inches long, spikelet crowded 1-8 inch 
long; lanceolate, acute, glabrous, sometimes purplish; outer 
empty glume If as long as the spikelet. General. 
