GROUP 2 



n iir 



. ill I 



ii'.!'.'< 



la. Blade hairy above at least near base 2 



1 b. Blade not hairy above 7 



2a. Collar hairy at least on margins 5 



2b. Collar not hairy 3 



3a. Blade flat, 2 to 3 mm. wide 4 



3b. Blade rolled and bristle-like, to 1 .5 mm. wide 



14. Aristida purpurascens — Arrow-feather 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot ; sheath round, smooth, split with overlap- 

 ping margins; auricles absent; collar broad; ligule membranous, to .3 

 mm. long, truncate, short ciliate; blade rolled and bristle-like, to 1.5 mm. 

 wide, smooth above with a few hairs near base, smooth below, margins 

 rough. Inflorescence — a narrow, lax and nodding panicle, one-third to 

 half entire length of plant. Massachusetts south. Dry sandy soil. 



4a. Blade short hairy above 



15. Festuca myuros — Rat tail Fescue 



Leaves folded in bud-shoot; sheath round, smooth split with overlap- 

 ping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow; ligule membranous, 

 .2 to .4 mm. long, truncate; blade 2 to 3 mm. wide, short hairy above, 

 smooth below and on margins. Inflorescence — a narrow panicle with 

 appressed branches. Coastal Plain, Massachusetts south. Open ground. 



mi 



m 



4b. Blade rough above, hairy behind ligule 



16. Muhlenbergia schreberi — Nimblewill 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath round, sharply keeled, smooth, split 

 with overlapping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow; ligule 

 membranous, about .2 mm. long, truncate; blade 2 to 3 mm. wide, rough 

 above and hairy behind ligule, smooth below, margins slightly rough. 

 Inflorescence — numerous, slender panicles. New Hampshire south. 

 Lawns, pastures and waste places. 



5a. Sheath hairy at least near top 6 



5b. Sheath smooth 



17. Sporobolus asper — Tall Dropseed 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath round, smooth, split with overlap- 

 ping margins; auricles absent; collar broad, sparsely hairy on margins; 

 ligule a fringe of hairs, .2 to .3 mm. long; blade about 2 mm. wide, sparse 

 long hairy near base above, smooth below, margins rough. Inflorescence 

 — a pale or whitish or purplish, contracted, spike-like panicle. Vermont 

 south. Sandy meadows. 



12 



