98 FLORA. 



Leaves erect, scabrous, the basal one-half the length of the culm, less than I mm. 

 wide, usually more or less involute, the culm leaves 5-20 cm. long, 1-2 mm. broad ; 

 panicle 7-5^*5 crn - l n g> the branches finally spreading, the lower ones 2.5-5 crn - 

 long, naked for about two-thirds their length; spikelets 2-2.5 mm. long, the third 

 scale glabrous, bearing an awn 6-8 mm. long. S. Dak. to Neb., N. Mex. and Ariz. 

 June-July. 



3. Oryzopsis asperifolia Michx. WHITE-GRAINED MOUNTAIN RICE. (I. F. 

 f. 316.) Culms 2.5-5 dm. tall, erect, smooth or scabrous. Sheaths crowded at 

 base ; leaves erect, rough, especially above, the basal ones elongated, often equalling 

 or exceeding the culm, 4-8 mm. wide, the I or 2 culm leaves much reduced, less 

 than 1.25 cm. long; panicle 5-7.5 cm. long, contracted, the branches 2.5 cm. in 

 length or less, erect ; spikelets, exclusive of awn, 6-8 mm. long ; third scale whitish, 

 equalling the second or a little shorter, sparingly pubescent, the awn 7-10 mm. long. 

 In woods, N. S. to Br. Col., south to N. J., Penn. , Minn., and in the Rocky Mts. 

 to N. Mex. May-June. 



4. Oryzopsis melanocarpa Muhl. BLACK -FRUITED MOUNTAIN RICE. (I. F. 

 f. 317.) Glabrous ; culms 4.5-9 dm. tall, erect, simple, roughish. Sheaths smooth 

 or scabrous, the lower ones usually longer, the upper slightly shorter than the inter- 

 nodes; leaves 1.25-3 dm. long, 4-14 mm. wide, narrowed toward the base, acuminate 

 at apex into along slender point, scabrous, especially above ; panicle branched or nearly 

 simple, 7.5-30 cm. long, its branches 5-10 cm. long, spreading or ascending, the 

 lower half naked ; outer scales of the spikelet about equal, 6-8 mm. in length, acute ; 

 third scale shorter, acute, dark colored, sparingly pubescent, the awn 1.6-2.4 cm. 

 long. Rocky woods, Vt. and Ont. to Minn., south to Mass., N. J., Ky. and 

 Mo. July- Aug. 



29. ERIOCOMA Nutt. 



Perennial tufted grasses, with usually involute leaves and a contracted or open 

 panicle. Spikelets I -flowered. Scales 3 ; outer two membranous, glabrous ; third 

 scale firmer, becoming hard in fruit, densely pubescent with long silky hairs, and 

 bearing a terminal readily deciduous awn, the callus at the base of the scale short 

 and obtuse. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, enclosed 

 in the scale. [Greek, referring to the copious silky hairs of the flowering scale.] 

 A small genus of 2 or possibly more species, natives of western N. Am. 



I. Eriocoma cuspidata Nutt. SILKY ORYZOPSIS. (I. F. f. 318.) Culms 3-6 

 dm. tall, erect, rigid, simple, smooth. Leaves 1.5-3 dm. long, less than 2 mm. 

 wide, involute, stiff, smooth or somewhat scabrous; panicle 1.53 dm. long, diffuse, 

 generally partially included in the upper sheath, its branches widely spreading and 

 many times forked, the ultimate divisions flexuous; outer scales of the spikelet 6-8 

 mm. in length, long-acuminate, glabrous; third scale about one-half as long, acute, 

 densely pubescent with long silky erect hairs nearly twice its own length, the awn 

 4-6 mm. long. On prairies, Alberta to Wash., south to Ivans., Ariz, and Mex. 

 May July. {Oryzopsis cuspidata Vasey.) 



30. MILIUM L. 



Annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaves and terminal lax panicles. Spike- 

 lets i-flowered. Scales 3, obtuse, not awned; the outer about equal; the third thin- 

 membranous, at length rigid, glabrous or pubescent; palet scarcely shorter. Sta- 

 mens 3. Styles short, distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain ovoid or oblong, free, 

 tightly enclosed in the rigid and shining scale and palet. [Latin name for Millet.] 

 Species 5 or 6, chiefly in Europe and Asia. 



i. Milium effasum L. TALL MILLET-GRASS. (I. F. f. 319.) Glabrous 

 throughout; culms 6-18 dm. tall, erect, simple, smooth. Leaves 7.522.5 cm. long, 

 6-16 mm. wide, narrowed toward the base, acuminate, smooth or scabrous; panicle 

 7.5-25 cm. in length, lax, its branches 5-7.5 cm. long, slender, somewhat flexuous, 

 naked at base and dividing above the middle, at length widely spreading; spike- 

 lets 2.53 mm. long; outer scales equal, smooth or scabrous, the third scale shorter, 

 smooth, white. In woods, Cape Breton I si. and Quebec to western Ontario, south 

 to Mass., Penn. and Mich. Also in Northern Europe and Asia. June-July. 



