GRAMINEAE. 125 



Flowering scales 1.5 mm. long, the pubescence on the nerves long and copious. 



1. L. mucronata. 

 Flowering scales less than i mm. long, the pubescence on the nerves short and scant. 



2. L. attenuata. 



1. Leptochloa mucronata (Michx.) Kunth. NORTHERN LEPTOCHLOA. (I. F. 

 f. 417.) Culms 3-12 dm. tall, finally branching. Sheaths, at least the lower ones, 

 commonly more or less hirsute ; leaves 6-25 cm. long, I cm. or less wide, rough ; 

 inflorescence 1.5-5 dm. long; spikes generally elongated, ascending, 5-15 cm. 

 long ; spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long ; scales usually 5, the outer empty 2 acute, equal, 

 or the first somewhat shorter than the second, the first scale usually a little shorter 

 than the first flowering scale. In fields, Va. to Fla., west to Cal. June-Aug. 



2. Leptochloa attenuata Nutt SHARP-SCALED LEPTOCHLOA. Culms 

 tufted, branching at the base, 2-4 dm. tall, rarely taller. Lower sheaths sparingly 

 pilose ; leaves 4-8 cm. long, sometimes longer, 3-5 mm. wide, sparingly pilose be- 

 neath ; inflorescence 1.5-2 dm. long ; spikes numerous, finally spreading, 2-5 cm. 

 long, rarely longer ; spikelets 1.6-2 mm. long ; scales 5 or 6, the outer 2 subulate, 

 acuminate, awn-pointed, usually about equal, or the first shorter than the second, 

 which reaches or extends beyond the apex of the second flowering scale. In sandy 

 river bottoms, 111. to Ind. Terr. Sept. -Oct. 



65. BULBILIS Raf. 



A perennial stoloniferous monoecious or apparently dioecious grass with flat 

 leaves and spicate inflorescence. Staminate spikelets borne in two rows on one side 

 of the rachis, the spikes at the summit of the long and exserted culms. Pistillate 

 spikelets in spike-like clusters of 2 or 3, on very short culms, scarcely exserted from 

 the sheath. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, long. Stigmas elongated, short-plumose. 

 Grain ovate, free, enclosed in the scale. [Name apparently from the supposed 

 bulb-like base of old plants.] A monotypic genus of central N. Am. 



i. Bulbilis dactyloides (Nutt.) Rat. BUFFALO-GRASS. (I. F. f. 418.) 

 Culms bearing staminate flowers 1-3 dm. tall, erect, slender, naked above ; those 

 bearing pistillate flowers 1.25-7.5 cm. long, much exceeded by the leaves ; leaves 

 2 mm. wide or less, more or less papillose, those of the staminate culms 2.5-10 cm. 

 long, erect, those of the stotons and pistillate culms 2.5 cm. long or less, spread- 

 ing ; staminate spikes 2 or 3, approximate ; spikelets 4-5 mm. long, flattened, 

 2-3-flowered, the empty scales i -nerved, the flowering 3-nerved ; pistillate spike- 

 lets ovoid, the outer scales indurated. On plains and prairies, Minn, to Dak., south 

 to Ark., Tex. and Mex. A valuable fodder-grass. June- July. 



66. MUNROA Torr. 



A low diffusely branched grass, with flat pungently pointed leaves crowded at 

 the nodes and the ends of the branches. Spikelets in clusters of 3-6, nearly sessile 

 in the axils of the floral leaves, 2-5 -flowered, the flowers perfect. Two lower scales 

 empty, lanceolate, acute, i -nerved, hyaline ; flowering scales larger, 3-nerved ; 

 i or 2 empty scales sometimes present above the flowering ones ; palet hyaline. 

 Stamens 3. Styles distinct, elongated. Stigmas barbellate or short-plumose. 

 Grain free, enclosed in the scale and palet. [In honor of Gen. William Munro, 

 English agrostologist. ] Three known species, the following of the plains of N. 

 Am., the others in S. Am. 



I. Munroa squarrosa (Nutt.) Torr. MUNRO'S GRASS. (I. F. f. 419.) Culms 

 5-20 dm. long, tufted, erect, decumbent or prostrate, much branched, smooth or 

 rough. Sheaths short, crowded at the nodes and ends of the branches, smooth, 

 pilose at the base and throat, sometimes ciliate on the margins ; leaves 2.5 cm. long 

 or less, 1-2 mm. wide, rigid, spreading, scabrous, pungently pointed ; spikelets 

 2-5 flowered, the flowers perfect ; empty scales I -nerved, shorter than the flower- 

 ing scales, which are about 5 mm. long, 3-toothed, the nerves excurrent as short 

 points or awns, with tufts of hair near the middle ; palets obtuse. On dry plains, 

 S. Dak. to Alberta, south to Neb., Tex. and Ariz. Aug.-Oct. 



67. PHRAGMITES Trin. 



Tall perennial reed-like grasses, with broad flat leaves and ample panicles. 

 Spikelets 3-several-flowered, the first flower often staminate, the others perfect; 



