[++] Spikelets small (1–2´´ long), pale green, rather loosely 2–4-flowered; flowers oblong, obtuse; flowering glume scarcely scarious-tipped; culm-leaves lance-linear, acute, 1–3´ long.
6. P. sylvéstris, Gray. Culm flattish, erect; branches of the oblong-pyramidal panicle short, numerous, in fives or more; flowering glumes villous on the keel its whole length, and on the margins below the middle, sparingly webbed at base.—Rocky woods and meadows, western N. Y. to Wisc., Kan., and southward. June.
7. P. débilìs, Torr. Culms terete, weak; branches of the small panicle few and slender (the lower l½–2´ long to the few spikelets), in pairs and threes; flowers very obtuse, smooth and glabrous, except a sparing web at base.—Rocky woodlands, R. I. to Penn. and Wisc. May.
[++][++] Spikelets 2´´ long, light green; oblong-lanceolate flowers and glumes acute.
8. P. alsòdes, Gray. Leaves rather narrowly linear, acute, the uppermost (2½–4´ long) often sheathing the base of the narrow and loose panicle, the capillary branches appressed when young, mostly in threes or fours; flowering glume very obscurely nerved, villous on the keel below, and with a narrow cobwebby tuft at base, otherwise glabrous.—Woods, on hillsides, N. Eng. to Penn. and Va., west to Wisc. May, June.
[++][++][++] Spikelets larger (3–4´´ long), pale green, rarely purple-tinged, few and scattered at the ends of the long capillary branches (mostly in pairs or threes) of the very diffuse panicle; flowers 3–6, loose, oblong and obtuse, as is the larger glume; flowering glume conspicuously scarious at the apex, villous below the middle on the keel and margins; culms flattish, smooth.
9. P. flexuòsa, Muhl. (not of Wahl.) Culms 1–3° high, tufted, its leaves all linear (2–5´ long), gradually taper-pointed; panicle very effuse (its branches 2–4´ long to the 4–6-flowered spikelets or first ramification); flowering glume prominently nerved, no web at the base.—Dry woods, Penn. and Del. to Ky., and southward. Feb.–May.—Near the last.
10. P. brevifòlia, Muhl. Culms 1–1½° high from running rootstocks, 2–3-leaved, the upper leaves very short (½–2´ long), lanceolate, all abruptly cuspidate-tipped; branches of the short panicle mostly in pairs; spikelets 3–4-flowered; flowering glume rather obscurely nerved, cobwebby at base.—Rocky or hilly woodlands, Penn., Va., and sparingly westward to Ky. and Ill. April, May.—Culm scarcely surpassing the long root-leaves.
65. GRAPHÉPHORUM, Desv. ([Pl. 10.])
Spikelets 2–4-flowered, compressed, the rhachis pilose on one side, jointed, produced above the flowers into a hairy pedicel. Empty glumes thin-membranaceous, acute, carinate, mostly nearly equalling the remote flowers; flowering glume thin and membranaceous or scarious, convex, scarcely keeled, faintly nerved, entire, pointless and awnless. Stamens 3. Stigmas plumose. Ovary glabrous.—Perennial, with linear flat leaves, their sheaths closed at base, the spikelets in a loose panicle. (Named from γραφίς, a pencil, and φέρω, to bear, from the terminal hairy pedicel.)