36. Panicum Lucidum Ashe. Bog Panic-Grass

Fig. 346

P. lucidum Ashe, Journ. Mitch. Sci. Soc. 15: 47. 1898",

Culms slender, smooth and glabrous, 1 1/2°-3° longr at length much elongated, dichotomously much branched and declining. Sheaths smooth and glabrous, or the lower ones pubescent, one-half the length of the internodes or less; ligule a short ring; blades erect, smooth and glabrous on both surfaces, lanceolate, principal nerves 5-7, the primary leaves l'-2 1/2' long, 1"-5" wide, those on the branches 1 1/2' or less long, concealing the small contracted panicles; primary panicle loose and open, 1 1/2'-3' long, its branches spreading or ascending, the lower 3/4'-1 1/2' long; spikelets on elongated pedicels, scattered, 1" long, oval to obovate, the scales glabrous, the first less than one-half as long as the spikelets.

Sphagnum bogs and wet woods, New York and southern New Jersey to Florida and Texas. June-Sept. Has been confused with P. sphagnicola Nash.

Panicum coerulescens Hack., of the southern states, Bahamas and Cuba, differing by blue-green foliage and erect culms, is recorded from New Jersey and Virginia.

37. Panicum Yadkinense Ashe. Spotted-Sheath Panic-Grass

Fig. 347

Panicum dichotomum var. elatum Vasey, Bull. U. S. Dep. Agr. Bot. 8: 31. 1889.

P. yadkinense Ashe, Journ. E. Mitch. Sci. Soc. 16: 85. 1900.

A glabrous perennial. Culms up to 3º tall, finally somewhat branched; sheaths much shorter than the internodes, usually white-spotted; ligule less than \" long; blades 3'-5' long, 2"-6" wide, glabrous; panicle 3'-5' long, broadly ovate or oval, its branches long, ascending; spikelets about 1 1/4" long and 1/2 as wide, acute, elliptic, glabrous, the second and third scales longer than the fruiting scale.

Moist woods and thickets, Pennsylvania to Georgia, Illinois and Louisiana. June-Aug.

Panicum roanokense Ashe, of the southern states, differing by erect leaf-blades, and smaller turgid, strongly nerved spikelets, ranges north to Virginia.

38. Panicum Microcarpon Muhl. Barbed Panic-Grass

Fig. 348

P. barbulatum Nash, in Britt. & Br. 111. Fl. 1: 120.

1896. Not Michx. 1803. P. microcarpon Muhl.; Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1: 127.

1817.

Culms at first simple, erect, 2°-3° tall, later, profusely branched for their whole length, 3°-4° long, prostrate or leaning, the nodes strongly barbed; blades smooth and glabrous, generally truncate or rounded at the base, the primary ones 3'-5' long, about i' wide, widely spreading, the lower ones usually reflexed, those of the branches ¥-2' long, 1"-2" wide; primary panicle 3' - 5' long, exserted, ovoid, its branches ascending, rigid; secondary panicles smaller, lax, not exceeding the leaves, the branches bearing few spikelets; spikelets about 3/4" long, ellipsoid, purple, glabrous; first scale about one-third as long as the spikelet, acute.

Moist soil, Massachusetts to Missouri south to Florida and Texas. Bearded Joint-grass. June-Aug.

Panicum nitidum Lam., differing by its larger pubescent spikelets, ranges from Virginia to Florida, the Bahamas and Texas.