GRASS FAMILY 69 



Plant extensively creeping, rooting at the nodes ; plant dioecious. 1 . E. hypnoides. 



Plant not creeping, not rooting at the nodes; flowers perfect. 



Annuals, much branched, ascending or decumbent and geniculate at the base. 



Spikelets about 3 mm. broad; first empty glume only slightly shorter than the 



second. 2. E. megastachya. 



Spikelets 1.5-2 mm. broad; first empty glume only two-thirds as long as the 



second. 

 Inflorescence open; branches at last more or less spreading; spikelets dark 



green or lead-colored. 3. E. Purshii. 



Inflorescence narrow; branches erect or strongly ascending; spikelets light 



yellowish green. 4. E. lutescens. 



Perennials, rigid, erect, often tufted. 



Spikelets scattered on the long branches. 



Branches of the panicle widely spreading in age. 5. E. pectinacea. 



Branches of the panicle erect or strongly ascending. 



Spikelets 3-9-flowered, on pedicels much longer. 6. E. trichodes. 



Spikelets 8-15-flowered, on pedicels scarcely as long. 7. E. neo-mexicana 

 .Spikelets clustered on short branches. 8. E. secundiflora. 



1. E. hypnoides (Lam.) B.S.P. Stem 5-45 cm. long, branched, glabrous; 

 floral branches erect, 3-15 cm. high; leaves about 5 cm. long or less, 1-2 mm. 

 wide, flat; spikelets 10-35-flowered, 4-15 mm. long; empty glumes unequal, the 

 first one-half to two-thirds as long as the second; lemma about 2.5 mm. long; 

 lateral veins prominent; glumes of the pistillate spikelets more acute than those 

 of the st animate ones. E. reptans Nees. Sandy or gravelly shores: Vt. Ont. 



-Neb N.M. Fla. B.C. Ida. Calif.; Mex., W. Ind. Plain Submont. Au-S. 



2. E. megastachya (Koel.) Link. Stem 1-6 dm. tall; leaf-blades 7-18 cm. 

 long, 2-6 mm. wide, flat, smooth beneath, scabrous above; panicles 5-15 cm. 

 long; spikelets 8-35-flowered, 5-16 mm. long, very flat; empty glumes acute; 

 lemma obtuse, 2-2.5 mm. long. E. major Host. STINK GRASS. Waste places 

 and cultivated grounds: Ont. Fla. Calif. Mont.; Mex.; nat. from Eu. 

 Plain Submont. My-S. 



3. E. Purshii Schrad. Stem 1-4 dm. tall, smooth; leaf -blades 4-9 cm. long, 

 1-2 mm. wide; panicle open, 7-20 cm. long; spikelets 5-15-flowered, 3-8 mm. 

 long; lemma acute, firm, about 1.5 mm. long. Dry or sandy places: Ont. Fla. 



-Ariz.; Mex. Plain Submont. Je-O. 



4. E. lutescens Scribn. Stems 1-2 dm. high, glabrous; leaf-blades 2-5 cm. 

 long, 2-3 mm. wide, flat; panicle narrow, 4-7 cm. long; spikelets 2-3 mm. long, 

 3-12-flowered; first glume about 1 mm. long, the second 1.3 mm. long; lemma 

 obtuse, about 2 mm. long, 3-nerved. Sandy banks: Wash. Ida. Nev. Son. 

 Jl-S. 



5. E. pectinacea (Michx.) Steud. Stem 3-8 dm. high, erect, rigid; leaf- 

 blades 1-3 dm. long, 4-8 mm. wide, flat, sparingly villous at the base; panicle 

 1.5-6 dm. long, purple or purplish, strongly bearded in the axils; spikelets 5-15- 

 flowered, 3-8 mm. long; empty glumes acute, subequal; lemma 1.75-2 mm. long. 

 Dry or sandy soil: N.H. Fla. Tex. N.M. S.D. Plain. Au-S. 



6. E. trichodes (Nutt.) Nash: Stem 6-12 dm. high; sheaths pilose at the 

 throat; leaf -blades 1.5-7 dm. long, 2-4 mm. wide; panicle 2-7 dm. long, narrow; 

 lower axils sometimes bearded; spikelets usually pale, 3-9-flowered, 5-9 mm. 

 long; empty glumes subequal; lemma acute, 2-3 mm. long. Sandy soil: Ohio- 

 Ark. Tex. N.M. Neb. Plain Son. 



7. E. neomexicana Vasey. Stem 4-8 dm. high, usually branching near 

 the base; leaf -blades flat, 4-10 mm. broad; panicle oblong, 2-4 dm. long, open; 

 spikelets 5-8 mm. long, 8-15-flowered; lemma hispidulous on the keel near the 

 acute apex; palet one-third shorter, ciliate. (?) E. limbata Fourn. (older name). 

 Mountain sides: w Tex. s Utah Calif.; n Mex. Son. Je-S. 



8. E. secundiflora Presl. Stems 1.5-10 dm. high, erect, simple; leaf-blades 

 5-30 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, flat; panicle 4-15 cm. long, the branches erect or 

 ascending; spikelets crowded, sessile or nearly so, strongly flattened, 8-40- 

 flowered, 6-20 mm. long, 3-5 mm. wide; empty glumes acute, equal; flowering 

 glumes 3-3.5 mm. long, acute, usually purple-margined. Dry or sandy soil: 

 Mo La. Tex. N.M. Colo.; Mex. Son. Au-S. 



