Class III. Order II. 33 



Stem about two feet in height. Leaves q|ugh, narrow, on long 

 rough sheaths. Panicle erect, spreading, with slender, rough 

 branches. Flowers very distinguishable by their oval figure 

 and white colour. Glumes of the corolla compressed, the two 

 valves shut together, so as to assume an elliptical form, with 

 the curvature on one side greatest. Keel of the valves ciliated, 

 giving the circumference of the flower a fringed appearance. 

 Wet places. August. Perennial. 



26. UNIOLA. 



UNIOLA SPICATA. L. Spike grass. 



Somewhat spiked ; leaves involute, rigid. L. 



A common grass of the salt marshes. Stem a foot high, 

 round, smooth. Leaves of the stem numerous, short, smooth, 

 increasing in frequency upward, the upper ones hardly an inch 

 apart, rolled up so as to acquire a setaceous form, commonly 

 investing, and often overtopping the spike. Spike irregular, 

 about an inch long, consisting of ten or a dozen small, compress- 

 ed, crowded spikelets. Glumes flattened, sharp on the back.' 

 July .Perennial . 



27. DACTYLTS. 



DACTYLIS GLOMERA.TA. L. Orchard grass. 



Panicle crowded, leaning one way. Sm. 



Root perennial. Culms round, rough toward the top. 

 Leaves very rough. Stipules cloven or torn. Panicle of flow- 

 ers consisting of close bunches on rough and rigid peduncles ; 

 leaning toward one side. Calyx pubescent and rough, the in- 

 ner valve twice as large as the outer, and shortly awned. June, 

 Perennial. 



A coarse, but extremely hardy and productive grass, said 

 to be much more luxuriant here than in Europe. By fences, 

 thickets, &c. June, July. 



