57. Panicum Commonsianum Ashe. Commons' Panic-Grass

Fig. 367

P. Commonsianum Ashe, Journ. E. Mitch. Sci. Soc. 15: 55. 1898.

Culms tufted, 12'-20' tall, pubescent below with long nearly appressed hairs, the upper portion glabrous or puberulent, finally branched, the nodes barbed with spreading hairs; sheaths, at least the lower ones, pubescent with long often appressed hairs; ligule 1/2 " long or more; blades 1 1/2'-4' long, 1 1/2"-4" wide, erect, lanceolate, appressed-pubescent on the lower surface with stiff hairs, the upper surface glabrous or with some long spreading hairs toward the base; panicle 1 1/2'-3' long, ovate, its branches spreading or ascending; spikelets 1 1/4" to a little less than 3" long and 1/2 as broad, obovoid, pubescent with spreading hairs, the first scale about i as long as the spikelet.

In dry sandy soil near the coast, Connecticut to North Carolina and Florida. June and July.

58. Panicum Columbianum Scribn. American Panic-Grass

Fig. 368

Panicum columbianum Scribn. Bull. U. S. Dept. Agric.

Div. Agrost. 7: 78. 1897. P. psammophilum Nash, Bull. Torrey Club, 26: 576.

1899. P. columbianum var. thinium Hitchc. & Chase, Rhodora,

Culms tufted, erect, softly pubescent, 8'-2° tall, at length dichotomously branched, the branches erect. Lower sheaths pubescent, the upper glabrous, the primary one-half as long as the internodes; ligule a ring of short hairs; blades lanceolate, erect, thickish and firm, glabrous above, the lower ones more or less pubescent beneath, the primary 1 1/2'-2 1/2'Y long, 2"-3" wide, those on the branches smaller; panicle small, ovate, i'-1 1/2' long, its branches ascending; spikelets broadly obovate, a little more than 3/4" long, the outer 3 scales densely pubescent with spreading hairs, the first scale about one-half as long as the spikelet, 1-nerved, the second and third scales 7-nerved.

Fields and open woods, Maine to Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama. June-Sept.

59. Panicum Tsugetorum Nash. Hemlock Panic-Grass

Fig. 369

P. tsugetorum Nash, Bull. Torr. Club, 25: 86. 1898.

Culms and sheaths pubescent with short appressed or ascending hairs intermixed toward the base with longer ones. Culms tufted, 1 1/2° or less tall, somewhat slender, at length much branched and decumbent or prostrate; sheath shorter than the internodes; ligule a ring of hairs about i" long; blades erect or ascending, firm, lanceolate, 5-7-nerved, minutely appressed-pubescent beneath, smooth and glabrous above, or the upper primary leaves sometimes with a few long erect hairs, the primary leaves 1 1/2'-3' long, 2 1/2"-4" wide, those on the branches smaller and partly concealing the small panicles; primary panicles broadly ovate, 1 1/2'-2 1/2' long, the branches spreading-ascending; spikelets broadly obovate, about 7/8" long, the outer 3 scales pubescent, with short spreading hairs.

Dry soil in woods, Maine to Virginia, Illinois and Tennessee.