COS.); Greenl. to Alas., s. to Pa., 111., Kan., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras. 



3. Alopecurus geniculatus L. Water foxtail. Fig. 112. 



Perennial; culms decumbent or long-decumbent at base, rooting at the lower 

 nodes, glabrous, often bent above (only erect in dwarf forms), 1-6 dm. long above 

 the rooting base; sheaths glabrous, usually somewhat inflated; ligules usually 

 2-4 mm. long; blades minutely scabrous above, 1-4 mm. wide; panicles 2-7 cm. 

 long, 4-6 mm. wide; glumes 2.5-3 mm. long, the tips often purplish, ciliate on 

 the keel, glabrous or appressed-pubescent on the lateral margins; lemma glabrous, 

 the often purplish awn bent, exserted about the length of the spikelet or farther; 

 anthers about 1.5 mm. long. 



In mud and shallow water of lakes, ponds and waterways, and in marshes, in 

 N. M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino. Santa Cruz, Yavapai and Pima 

 COS.); Nfld. to Sask. and B. C, s. to Va., Pa., Mich., Wise, Kan., Wyo., N. M., 

 Ariz, and Calif.; Euras. 



4. Alopecurus carolinianus Walt. 



Tufted annual; culm 1-5 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, the lower internodes com- 

 monly not erect, the remainder erect; ligule a scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 2-15 cm. 

 long, 1.5-5 mm. broad, flat; spikes 2-5 cm. long, 4-6 mm. thick; glumes 2-2.5 

 mm. long, densely ciliate on the keels; awn of lemma 3-5 mm. long. 



Moist soil near ponds and streams, wet meadows, in Okla. (Johnston Co.), e., 

 s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., infrequent and rare w. to Bexar, Burnet, Llano and Wichita 

 COS., N. M. (San Miguel Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Gila and Pima cos.), Mar.- 

 May; B. C. and practically throughout the U. S. except n. N.E. 



30. Polypogon Desf. 



Annual or perennial usually decumbent herbs; blades flat, scabrous; lower 

 internodes reclining on mud, the nodes with adventitious roots; panicles dense; 

 zone of abscission below the glumes; glumes nearly equal, both persistent, awned, 

 united at the very base, scabrous or pubescent; lemma much shorter than glumes, 

 involute, ellipsoidal, with a dorsal readily deciduous awn; palea membranous, 

 enclosed by the lemma. 



A genus of about 15 species in warm regions of the world. 



1. Annual; glumes minutely lobed, the very slender awns (4-) 6-8 mm. long; 

 panicles very dense, spikelike 1. P. monspeliensis. 



1. Perennials; glumes not lobed, the awn not more than 5 mm. long; panicles 



moderately dense (2) 



2(1). Glumes abruptly narrowed above, the awns 2.5-5 mm. long 



2. P. interruptus. 



2. Glumes gradually tapering into a short awn that is 1-2 mm. long 



3. P. elongatus. 



1. Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. Rabbitfoot grass. Fig. 113. 



Annual; culms often rooting at the lower nodes or less commonly totally erect, 

 1-7 dm. long, 1-3 mm. thick; ligule a scale 3-10 mm. long; blades 4-16 cm. long, 

 2.5-11 mm. broad, flat; panicle 2-15 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, either narrow and 

 spikelike or broader and ellipsoidal and somewhat interrupted, stramineous at 

 maturity; glumes 2 mm. long, apicaliy notched and in the notch each bearing an 

 awn 5-9 mm. long; lemma less than 1 mm. long, with a deciduous awn less than 

 1 mm. long. 



Moist soil near fresh water, in brackish ponds, seepage and boggy areas, 

 marshes, wet meadows and along streams, throughout most of our region, scattered 

 and local, Mar.-July; Eur., introd. and now widespread in temp. N. A.; of local 

 forage value. 



238 



