475 
GENUS 49. PASPALUM. Lin nus. 
(Greek —Paapalos, the ancient name for millet.) 
Spikelets spiked or somewhat racemed in two to four rows on one side 
of a flattened rachis, jointed with their short pedicels, plano-convex, 
awnless, apparently but one-flowered; lower flower neutral, of a single 
membranaceous, awnless palea, as long as the glume ; perfect flowers, 
with two coriaceous awnless paleae, the lower concave, and embracing 
the upper one ; stamens three. 
119. Paspalum Fluitans. Kunth. 
Syn. —P. mucronatum, Muhl. Ceresia fluitans, Elliot. 
Stem creeping and ascending, much branched, often floating; leaves 
scabrous; spikes numerous, (10 to 25) ; glumes white, dotted, a little 
hairy. Annual; flowers in September and October. Culms 1 to 2 feet 
long. Grows in wet muddy places. Ohio, near Cincinnati.—(T. G. Lea.) 
GENUS 50. PANICUM. Linnaeus. 
(Latin— Panicum, millet, probably from panis, bread.) 
Spikelets sometimes spiked or racemose, usually panicled; glumes un¬ 
equal, the lower one short, minute or wanting; lower flower neutral or 
staminate, rarely awned, mostly consisting of a single palea, which 
resembles the upper glume; upper floret perfect, coriaceous, inclosing 
the free and groveless grain ; stamens 3 ; stigma plumose, usually pur- 
p le - 
§ 1. Spikes linear, unilateral; digitate, fasiculate or paniculate; flow¬ 
ers unawned ; neutral floret with a single palea; glume minute or want¬ 
ing. (Digitaria, Scop.) 
120. Panicum Sanguinale. Linnaeus. 
Syn. —Digitaria sanguinalis, Scopol. Syntherisma priecox, Walt. 
Crab-grass, Finger-grass. 
i 
Culms geniculate, decumbent and rooting at the base; spikes 4 to 8 or 
10, digitate-clustered; upper glume shorter than the flower; leaves 
linear, lanceolate. Annnal; flowers from August to October. Culms 
1 to 2 feet high. Naturalized in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan. A 
native of Europe, North Africa, and the West Indies. 
In some of the southern states this grass is pulled by hand from among 
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