Panicum patulum

Panicum patulum (Scribn. & Merr.) Hjtchc. Rhodora 8: 209
1906.
Panicum Nashianum patulum Scribn. & Merr. Circ. TJ. S. Dep. Agr. Agrost. 27: 9. 1900.
Vernal phase densely cespitose, grayish-olive; culms geniculate-decumbent, ascending at the ends, as much as 50 cm. long, the internodes and leaf-sheaths densely velvety-puberulent, the latter usually ciliate on the margin, at least toward the summit; blades rather lax, spreading, 4—8 cm. long, 4-8 mm. wide, tapering toward both ends, velvetypuberulent beneath, softly pubescent on the upper surface, sometimes obscurely so, ciliate at least half their length ; panicles as in P. lancearium, the spikelets more globular-pyriform than in that species, 1.3 mm. wide, and nearly as thick; second glume and sterile lemma densely papillose-pubescent; fruit 1.8 mm. long, 1.1-1.2 mm. wide; otherwise as in P. lancearium. 275
Autumnal phase more freely branching than in P. lancearium, often forming large mats, the decumbent culms producing ascending branches from all the nodes at about the maturity of the primary panicles, these repeatedly branching, the ultimate branchlets crowded, but about evenly so throughout, not in fascicles at the summit only, the spreading blades much reduced; winter rosettes appearing early, the blades often 7 or 8 cm. long, glabrous or nearly so on the upper surface.
Type locality: Braidentown, Florida. Distribution: Virginia to Florida and Louisiana.