128 TRIANDRIA. DIGYNIA. brombs. 



brous and pubescent. Sfiikelets at length a little nodding, 

 thick ; when old, broad and flat by the expanding of the florets. 

 Calyx unequal ; glumes ovaie-lanceolate, acuniinate, mucro- 

 nate; the interior 5 -nerved ; the superior 7-nerved. Interior 

 valve of the corolla ovate, 7-nerved, a little hairy towards the 

 summit; bristle generally a little stiorter than the floret; su- 

 perior valve narrow, very distinctly ciliate on the margin. Sia= 

 mens 3 ; anthers yellow. Styles short ; stigmas plumose. Seed 

 oblong, nearly as long as the corolla. 

 Hab. in cultivated grounds, particularly among grain ; com" 

 mon. June. A very noxious grass to farmers. Called Chess 

 or Cheat. Doubtless introduced from Europe. 



2. B. mollis L. : panicle erect, contracted ; spikelets 

 •blong- ovate, somewhat compressed, pubescent ; bristle 

 straight, as long as the corolla ; leaves very softly pubescent. 

 Schrad. Fl. Germ, I. p. 151. Willd. Spec. J. p. 429. 

 Smith Fl. BriU I. p. 1 27. Eng, Bot. t. 1 078. Pursh Fh 



I. p. 85. Muhl. Cat. p. 12, Roem, <^Schult, II. 

 p. 636. 



Boot biennial, (annual Mu h I.) Culm about 2 feet high, erectj 

 mostly pubescent. Leaves pale green, and as well as the 

 sheaths covered with a soft down or pubescence. Stifiule very 

 short, obtuse. Panicle 3 — 4 inches long. Spikelets 5 — 10- 

 flowered. Glumes rather acute. Inferior valve of the corolla 

 oblong-lanceolate, with 7 scabrous nerves ; anvn rather straight. 



Hab. In fields and pastures near New-York. In Pennsylvania 

 and New-York. Muhlenberg. .lune. Naturalized, This 

 species is omitted m M u h I e n b e r g 's Descrifit. Uber. Gram, 

 although it is enumerated in his Catalogue. 



3. "Q. purgans L. : panicle nodding; spikelets lanceo- 

 late, terete ; florets hairy ; bristle straight ; leaves smooth , 

 sheaths hairy. Sp. pi. 113. Willd. Enum. h. Berol. I. 

 p. 120. Spec. 1. p. 431. Pursh Fl. 1. p. 85. Muhl. 

 Gram. p. no. E Uiot t Sk. I. i^. 173. Roem. (^' Schul t. 



II. p. 642. 



Jioot perennial, fibrous. Culm about 4 feet high> terete, smooth. 

 Leaves broad-linear, smooth and glaucous. Sheaths retrorsely 

 hairy. Stipule pilose. Panicle with the branches scabrous and 

 flexuous. Spikelets 6— S-flowered. Glumes unequal, lancer 

 olate, hairy ; the inferior very acute ; the other terminated by a 

 short point or cusp. Inferior valve of the corolla 3-nerved, 

 villose. 



Hab. In wet meadows, along rivers. See. ; rare. August. 



Allied to B. catharticus, a native of Lima, but has narrower 

 spikes. 



4. h. ciliatus L. : panicle nodding; spikelets oblong, 

 terete, 8 — 10-flowered; glumes acute, (not mucronate,) cili- 

 ate; corolla hairy, margiij villosely-ciliate ; bristles short. 



