HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



55b. Rudiment placed straight on the end of the rachilla; tips of lower 

 florets below that of the uppermost one. Fig. 89. 



Melica nitens (Scribn.) Hitch. 



Perennial; tufted; plants 50—120 cm. tall- 

 leaf sheaths glabrous or scabrous; leaf 

 blades 7 — 15 mm. wide; panicles 10 — 20 

 cm. long, with a few branches. The droop- 

 ing spikelets are more slender than in 

 the previous species and usually have 3 

 fertile florets. The rudiment is more slen- 

 der and pointed than in Melica mutica. 

 This species is probably more common 

 than the previous one. The two are fre- 

 quently confused but the position and 

 shape of the rudiment should distinguish 

 them. Scattered in rocky woods. Late 

 April — June. 



Figure 89 



56a. Lemmas without owns 57 



56b. Lemmas bearing awns. Fig. 90. 



Me2ica smithii (Porter) Vasey 



Figure 90 



Slender tufted perennial; plants 60 — 

 120 cm. tall; sheaths downwardly scab- 

 rous; leaf blades soft, scabrous, 6 — 12 

 mm. wide. The panicles are very open, 

 12 — 25 cm. long, with slender spread- 

 ing branches bearing spikelets at the 

 tips. The spikelets are 18—20 mm. long, 

 with 3 — 6 florets, and sometimes are 

 purplish; awns are 3 — 5 mm. long. This 

 slender woodland grass is found in moist 

 forests. The occurrence in northern 

 Michigan is the result of the cold post- 

 glacial climate which once embraced 

 that area. The plants resemble those 

 of some of the perennial species of Bro- 

 mus, from which they differ in the pres- 

 ence of the rudiment. July — August. 



49 



