Class III. Order III. 25 



SPARTINA GLABRA. Muhl. Ditch grass. 



Spikes numerous, sessile, somewhat imbricated ; 

 valves of the calyx mostly glabrous. 



A large rank grass, common about muddy shores and in salt 

 water ditches. Stem round, smooth, three or four feet high. 

 Leaves very long, smooth, acute. Spikes ten or a dozen, sessile, 

 lying over each other, with their backs successively applied to 

 the three sides of a long triangular, smooth, common stalk. 

 Flowers closely imbricated, in a double row, leaning outward, as 

 in the former species. Inner valve of the calyx linear. Outer 

 valve many times larger, compressed, and to the naked eye 

 glabrous. Through a glass it is found ciliated on the keel. 

 Anthers straw coloured. August, September. Perennial. 



22. ORYZOPSIS. 



ORYZOPSIS ASPERIFOLIA. MX. Mountain Rice. 



Leaves erect, rigid, pungent at the point ; panicle 

 simple. 



This grass is remarkable for its large seeds, which, it has 

 been suggested, may render it worthy of cultivation. It is a foot 

 or more in height, with a panicle of a few racemose branches. 

 Seeds greenish white. The single style is the chief character 

 which separates it from some species of nuUum. In old woods 

 in the interior. May. Perennial. 



D1GYNIA. 



23, MILIUM. 



MILIUM RACEMOSUM. Sm. Black seeded Millet grass. 



Panicle simple, its branches racemose ; calyx ellip- 

 tical, acute, ribbed ; corolla hairy at base ; awn as 

 long again as the valves. 



Syn. OKTZOPSIS MELAXOCARPA. Muhl. 



PlPTATHERUM XIGRUM Torrey. 



A tall grass with large black grains. Culm two or three feet 

 high. Leaves long, linear-lanceolate. Panicle of a few long, 

 simple, racemose branches, erect at first, but afterwards spread- 



'1 



