PANICUM VIR.IDE.
Clustered Panick.
Spec. Chae. Florets with involucelli, arid clustered into a compact cylindrical spike;
corolla with three valves.
A geeat similarity exists between this Panicum and the preceding verticillatum, and in a yourig
state, before the separation of the spike, it is with difficulty that the eye alone can detect them: in
this species the florets are placed by fours or sixes in a set, and clustered into a spike, which never
separates into verticiUate divisions, as in the former plant:. the bristles'; that are seated at the base of
the footstalk of each floret vary continually in number, from two to four, and in maturity their summits
are tinted with purple: the little footstalks that support the florets are curiously hollowed out,
like a cup, in both these species (E), to receive them, and they are so very slightly fixed in them
that the expansion of tire calyx will frequently detach the floret; and it appears probable that the
object o f the third valve is to accomplish this purpose, and elevate by its extension the florets from
their stipes.____ Leaves rough on both sides, and serrated at their edges. Stipuhe a circle of white
hairs. Straw smooth, excepting near the spike, which is there rough, with spines pointing upwards.
______ Nature appears to have very strongly armed and defended the seeds of these Panick grasses
from the attacks of insects, and their bristles give, some annoyance to the smaller birds which pillage
the spikes, promoting the increase and continuation of the species for purposes that are not revealed
to the comprehensions of man. The medicinal arid alimentary virtues of plants have, for the most
part, been long known and manifested to us, and many of them are daily applied in secondary offices
to the aid of our various necessities; yet there remains a very lafge portion, fabricated with peculiar
wisdom, and defended by mechanism of the most appropriate construction, serving for the security
and propagation of a race, of whose utility we have not the remotest conception; and to endeavour to
obtain this knowledge would possibly be a useless curiosity, as there appears no probability that we
could profit by 'the discovery, or yoke them to the services of man.
We have seen Panicum viride in a few places in the sandy fields called ' the Walks,’ near Melton,
iri Suffolk.
A, a Floret, with the involucelli.
B, a Floret, with the valves of the Calyx expanded, shewing the corolla.
C, a valve of the Calyx enlarged, and the small one at its base.
D, tire Corolla, and its three valves.
E, the cup-formed sumrfiit of the Stipes.