74 
TRIANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
The genus Dactylis, as it now stands in Persoon, ap- 
Pears to exist chietiy in the miider regions of Africa, the 
Cape of Good Hope, and Barbary; there are also 2 or 3 
species in India. These species appear, however, to pos- 
sess little or no affinity with the J. g/omerata of Europe. 
104. KOELERIA. Persoon. 
Caulix irregularly 2 or 3 flowered, 2-valved, | 
_ valves compressed-carinate.. Corolla acuminate- 
oblong, 2 valved, shorily awned, longer than 
the calix, glumes nervose. (Spike composed of 
compressed spikelets, often pubescent and sub- 
_ sessile.) — 
Flowers in a simple lobed spike, almost as in Phile- 
um; spikelets crested; calhx 2 or move flowered, resem- 
bling Daciylis glemerata, to which some of the species of 
_ this genus are nearly allied. 
Species 1. K.cristata. 2.*nitida. Spike elongated, lob- 
ed; lobes crowded, appressed, approximate; spikeiets ob- 
long-ovate, smooth. and awnless, lower 2-floweredj-up- 
per 3, both with an additional setaceous rudiment; pedi- 
cells very short, and with the leaf and sheath somewhat 
pubescent; stipule hairy. 
_ Oss ©)? Culm about a span, smooth, and striate; leaf 
very short, sheath long, spike about 2 inches; spikelets, 
greenish, sczriose, shining, compressed; calix unequal, ca- 
-rinate, acute; larger valve linear-obiong, smooth, (through 
a lens) cil.ate on tne keel; coroila similar to the calix, in- 
_ ner valve included in the outer. 
On the plains of the Missouri, vv. Very nearly allied 
105 
ee 
to the .4ira cristata of Smith, and in the structure of its 
flowers io the Dactylis glomerata! : y : 
This genus, now containing § species, indigenous to 
Europe, to North America aid Barbary, though perfectly 
» 1S Not at present sufficiently defined, except by 
habit; at the same time it ought never to bave been con- 
~ founded with Poa, with ira, or Avena. 
. AVENA. L. (Oiit-grass.) 
Calix 2-valved, 2, 3, or many-flowered, Co- 
* rolla, exterior valve lanceolate, somewhat te- 
rete, furnished with a dorsal awn. Awn geni- 
culate, and contorted. « Seed for the most part 
