4b. Plant not velvety hairy 



152. Digitaria sanguinalis — Common Crabgrass 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot ; sheath distinctly flattened, long hairy, split 

 with overlapping hyaline margins ; auricles absent ; collar medium broad 

 to broad, mostly divided, hairy at least on margins; ligule membranous, 

 1 to 2 mm. long, rounded to acute, sometimes toothed, often reddish or 

 purplish; blade 5 to 15 mm. wide, hairy above and below, keeled below, 

 margins rough and occasionally hairy. Inflorescence — 3 to 12 digitate 

 spike-like branches. Common throughout. Fields, gardens and waste 

 places. 



5a. Sheath and blade very rough 



153. Leersia oryzoides — Rice Cut-grass 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath distinctly flattened, very rough, 

 split with overlapping margins; auricles absent; collar broad divided, 

 hairy on margins, generally dark; ligule membranous, about 1.5 mm. 

 long, truncate ; blade to 8 mm. wide, very rough above and below and on 

 margins, few hairs near base above. Inflorescence — a spreading, flexuous- 

 branched panicle. Throughout. Marshes, river banks and wet places. 



5b. Sheath and blade not very rough 6 



6a. Ligule to more than 3 mm. long 



154. Paspalum dilitatum — Dallis Grass 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath distinctly flattened, smooth, split 

 with overlapping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar narrow to 

 broad, hairy at least on margins; ligule membranous, to 5 mm. long, 

 rounded to acute; blade 7 to 15 mm. wide, smooth above and mostly long 

 hairy behind ligule, smooth and keeled below, margins smooth to rough 

 and hyaline. Inflorescence — 3 to 5 one-sided, spike-like branches with 

 flat, round to oval seed. New Jersey south. Pastures, moist fields and 

 waste ground. 



6b. Ligule 3 mm. or less long 7 



7a. Plants with creeping rhizomes 



155. Leersia virginica — Whitegrass 



Leaves rolled in bud-shoot; sheath distinctly flattened, sparsely long 

 hairy, split with overlapping hyaline margins; auricles absent; collar 

 narrow, divided; ligule membranous, 1 to 1.5 mm. long, truncate; blade 

 to 8 mm. wide, rough above and below, midrib prominent below and 

 white, margins rough and hyaline. Inflorescence — an open panicle with 

 capillary branches distant. Throughout. Moist places. 



7b. Plants without creeping rhizomes 8 



46 



