HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



n.6a. Panicles cylindrical, 10 — 20 cm. long, the branches 3 — 6 in a 



whorl; lower branches drooping See P. sylvestris under 



P. alsodes, 117b. 



116b. Panicles pyramidal, 5 — 10 cm. long, the branches 1 — 2 at a node, 

 ascending See P. interior under P. palustris 115b. 



117a. Upper ligules 3 — 7 mm. long; sheaths usually scaberulous; inter- 

 mediate nerves oi lemmas conspicuous 1 15a 



117b. Upper ligules 0.5 — 2 mm. long; sheaths smooth; intermediate 

 nerves of lemmas inconspicuous. Fig. 151. 



Poa alsodes A. Gray 



Figure 151 



Perennial; tufted; plants slender, 30 — 

 60 cm. tall, erect and graceful, with very 

 open, delicate, cylindrical panicles, 10 

 — 25 cm. long and half as wide. The 

 slender branches bear a few spikelets 

 near their tips. Cool rocky woods or 

 wooded flood plains in the northeastern 

 states and the Appalachians. May — 

 June. 



Poa sylvestris A. Gray is found also 

 in rich woods and resembles this spe- 

 cies, but has lemmas which are hairy 

 between the nerves. New York to Wis- 

 consin, southward to Florida and Texas. 

 May — July. 



118a. Lemmas pubescent between the nerves, the hairs often very short 

 119 



118b. Lemmas glabrous between the nerves 



120 



80 



