142 FLORA. 



ss. DUPO'NTIA R. Br. 



Low grasses, with flat leaves and generally narrow panicles. Spikelets 2-4- 

 flowered, the flowers all perfect. Two lower scales empty, extending beyond the 

 flowering scales, membranous; flowering scales entire, membranous, with a tuft of 

 hairs at the base. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. [Name in 

 honor of J. D. Dupont, French botanist. ] T^wo arctic species, both circumboreal. 



i. Dupontia Fisheri R. Br. FISHER'S DUPONTIA. (I. F. f. 481.) Smooth 

 and glabrous. Culms 1.25-3 dm. ta ^5 leaves 2.5-15 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, 

 flat; panicle usually contracted, 3.75-8.5 cm. long, the branches less than 3.75 cm. 

 long, erect, or sometimes ascending; spikelets few, about 2-flowered, 6-8 mm. long; 

 empty basal scales thin, generally acute, the first I -nerved, somewhat shorter than 

 the second, which is usually 3-nerved, the lateral nerves often vanishing at about 

 the middle; flowering scales 5-6 mm. long, I -nerved or obscurely 3-nerved; basal 

 hairs about I mm. long. Arctic regions of northeastern America. Also in arctic 

 Europe and Asia. Summer. 



89. SCOLOCHLOA Link. 



Tall aquatic or marsh grasses, with flat leaves and ample panicles. Spikelets 

 2-4-flowered, the flowers perfect. Two lower scales empty, thin -membranous, 

 3-5-nerved; flowering scales rigid, with a tuft of hairs at the base, rounded on the 

 back, 5-7 -nerved, some of the nerves usually excurrent as short points; palets about 

 equalling the scales, 2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles very short. Stigmas plumose. 

 Grain hairy at the apex. [Greek, referring to the prickle-like projecting nerves 

 of the flowering scales.] Species 2, in the north temperate zones of both continents. 



I. Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link. FESCUE SCOLOCHLOA. (I. F. f. 

 482.) Culms 9-15 dm. tall. Sheaths often overlapping ; leaves 2-3 dm. long or 

 more, 4-8 mm. wide, flat, scabrous on the margins ; panicle 2-3 dm. in length, 

 usually open, the branches ascending, naked at the base, the lower 7.5-10 cm. 

 long ; spikelets 6-8 mm. long ; empty basal scales acute, the first shorter than the 

 second ; flowering scales scabrous, 7 -nerved. Iowa and Neb., north to Manitoba 

 and Assiniboia. July-Aug. 



90. GRAPHEPHORUM Desv. 



Slender erect grasses, with flat leaves and a usually contracted nodding panicle. 

 Spikelets 2-4-flowered, flattened, the rachilla hirsute and extending beyond the 

 flowers. Two lower scales empty, somewhat shorter than the flowering scales, 

 thin-membranous, acute, keeled; flowering scales membranous, obscurely nerved, 

 entire, sometimes short-awned just below the apex. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. 

 Stigmas plumose. Grain glabrous. [Greek, pencil-bearing, referring to the tuft 

 of hairs at the end of the rachilla. ] Three known species, natives of northern N. 

 Am. 



i. Graphephorum melicoideum (Michx.) Beauv. GRAPHEPHORUM. (I. F. 

 f. 483.) Culms 3-7.5 dm. tall. Sheaths glabrous, or the lower often villous; 

 leaves 3.75-22.5 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, long-acuminate, rough; panicle 5-15 

 cm. in length, the top usually nodding, the branches erect, 2.5-5 cm - l n g; spike- 

 lets 2-4-flowered, 5-6 mm. long; scales scabrous on the keel, the empty ones un- 

 equal, the first i-nerved or obscurely 3-nerved, shorter than the 3-nerved second; 

 flowering scales 3~5-nerved, acute. In wet soil, Anticosti Isl. to Ont., south to 

 Me. and Mich. Aug.-Sept. 



91. PANICULARIA Fabr. 



Mostly perennial grasses, often tall, with flat leaves and paniculate inflorescence. 

 Spikelets few many-flowered, terete or somewhat flattened. Two lower scales empty, 

 obtuse or acute, i-3-nerved ; flowering scales membranous, rounded on the back, 

 5~9-nerved, the nerves disappearing in the hyaline apex. Palets scarcely shorter 

 than the scales, rarely longer, 2 -keeled. Stamens 2 or 3. Styles distinct. Stig- 

 mas plumose. Grain smooth, enclosed in the scale and palet, free, or when dry 

 slightly adhering to the latter. [Latin, referring to the panicled spikelets.] About 

 20 species, widely distributed in N. Am., a few in Europe and Asia. 



