78 



MISC. PUBLICATION 200, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



often scarious at tip, the first 1-nerved or sometimes 3-nerved, the 

 second 3-nerved; lemmas usually firm, rounded on the back, obtuse 

 or acute, rarely acuminate, usually scarious and often erose at the 

 tip, glabrous or puberulent toward base, rarely pubescent on the 

 nerves, 5-nerved, the nerves parallel, indistinct, rarely rather promi- 

 nent; palea about as long as the lemma or somewhat shorter. Low 



pale smooth tufted annuals or perennials with narrow to open panicles. 

 Type species, Puccinellia distans. Named for Prof. Benedetto 

 Puccinelli. 



The species of the interior are grazed by stock. One, P. nuttalliana, 

 furnishes considerable forage in the regions where it is common. A 

 form of this, called Zawadke alkali-grass, is cultivated in Montana. 



