Panicum malacophyllum Nash

Panicum malacophyllum Nash, Bull. Torrey Club 24: 198. 1897
Panicum scoparium minus Scribn. Bull. Tenn. Exp. Sta. 7: 48. 1894.
Vernal phase velvety or velvety-pilose throughout; culms slender, few to several in tufts, 25—70 cm. high, more or less geniculate at base with arched internodes, ascending or spreading, papillose-pilose with soft, reflexed hairs, the nodes retrorsely bearded; leaf-sheaths loose, shorter than the internodes, usually less copiously pilose than the culm; ligule 1—1.5 mm. long; blades spreading or ascending, 7-10 cm. long, 6-12 mm. wide, tapering to the rounded base, acuminate, rather thin, velvety on both surfaces, ciliate at least toward the base; panicles usually shortexserted, 3-7 cm. long, at first narrow, the lower branches finally spreading, with short, spikelet-bearing branchlets in the axils; spikelets 2.9-3 mm. long, 1.5-1.7 mm. wide, elliptic-obovate, obscurely pointed, turgid at maturity, papillose-pilose; first glume about one third as long as the spikelet; second glume and sterile lemma equaling the fruit at maturity; fruit 2.2 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, elliptic.
Autumnal phase spreading, freely branching from the middle and upper nodes before the maturity of the primary panicle, at length forming bushy, topheavy clumps with reduced blades and numerous secondary panicles.
Typ$ locality: Sapulpa, Indian Territory [Oklahoma]. Distribution: Tennessee to Oklahoma and eastern Texas.