HITCHCOCK AND CHASE—NORTH AMERICAN PANICUM. 269 
The species described as P. ramulosum Michx. by Chapman®@ is P. chamaelonche as 
shown by the description, by a specimen in the Chapman Herbarium at the New York 
Botanical Garden labeled ‘‘ Panicum ramulosum Michx. (nitidum S. F1.!)® Southern 
Florida,’’ and by the fact that Chapman¢ cites “‘ P. ramulosum Flora”’ [Southern U. S.] 
as a synonym under P. baldwini Nutt. 
Scribner @ describes and illustrates this species as P. baldwinii ‘‘Nutt. in herb.” and 
gives as synonym, “‘P. dichotomum var. nitidum Chapman, Southern Flora, first 
edition.’’ Chapman does not make the combination as stated by Scribner, but refers 
P. nitidum Ell. to P. dichotomum as a form. Chapman’s plant as stated above is P. 
chamaelonche, but P. nitidum of Elliott’s herbarium is P. longiligulatum Nash. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Vernal form densely tufted; culms 10 to 20 or even 30 cm. high, ascending, glabrous, 
the nodes glabrous; sheaths, except the basal ones, half as long as the internodes or 
less, at least the upper rather loose, glabrous or occasionally with a few cilig on the 
margin; ligules 0.2 mm. long; blades firm, ascending or spreading, 1.5 to 4 cm., rarely 
5 cm. long, 2 to 3 mm. wide, more’or less involute-pointed, glabrous on both surfaces, 
often with a few long, stiff hairs on the margin near the base; panicles finally long- 
exserted, 2.5 to 5 cm. long, nearly as wide, the flexuous branchlets and pedicels spread- 
ing at nearly right angles; spikelets 1.1 to 1.2 mm. long, 0.6 mm. wide, obovate, obtuse, 
turgid, glabrous; first glume one-fourth to one-third as long 
as the spikelet, obtuse; second glume slightly shorter than 
the fruit and sterile lemma; fruit 0.9 to 1 mm. long, 0.6 
mm. wide, elliptic, subobtuse. 
Autumnal form freely branching from the base and lower 
nodes, the early branches often as long as the primary culms, 
Fig. 297.—P. chamaclonche. ‘epeatedly branching, forming dense cushions, as much as 50 
From type specimen. cm. across, the longer culms upturned at the ends; ultimate 
branchlets more or less fascicled, the scarcely reduced blades 
drying involute, overtopping the small panicles; winter rosettes usually persisting 
green during the vernal state, the rather firm blades 2 to 5 cm. long. 
The plants are usually purple throughout in both vernal and autumnal state. 
Occasional specimens, such as Hitchcock 873, are yellow green, and look strikingly 
different in the field. Hitchcock’s no. 
1436, Chase 4570, and Tracy 6732 have 
unusually large blades, as much as 6 
em. long and 5mm. wide. The speci- 
‘mens of Hitchcock 952 are 30 to 40 cm. 
high, with large panicles and rather 
long lower blades and appear to be 
intermediate between this and P. 
glabrifolium. 
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DISTRIBUTION. 
2 c Fia. 298.—Distribution of P. chamaelonche. 
Open sandy soil, mostly in the low 
pine land or “‘flatwoods,’’ North Carolina to Florida and Mississippi. 
Nort Carona: Vicinity of Wilmington, Chase 3125, 4570, Hitchcock 338, 339, 
1427, 1435, 1436, 1483, 1488; Wards Mill, Chase 3182. 
Geroratia: Savannah, Kearney 177. 
@ Fl. South. U.S. ed. 2. 667. 1889. 
6 This is included as a form under P. dichotomum L. in Chapm. FI. South. U. 8. 
576. 1860. 
¢ Fl. South. U.S. ed. 3. 586. 1897. 
2U.S. Dept. Agr. Div. Agrost. Bull. 11: 43. f. 3. 1898. 
