TRIANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 69 



distichous, valves ventricose, cordate, obtuse^ 

 interior valve minute. 



Flowers usually in capillary panicles; spiruli, generally 

 noddinj^- and tremulous. A ti^enus nearly allied to Poa. 



Species. I- B. Canadensis. ji virens? 



Tiiere are but 8 species of this g'enus described by 

 Persuoii; of wiiicli, besides the above, there are in Ku- 

 i-ope 4 species, 1 in India. 1 at Montevideo, ( South Ame- 

 rica), and 1 confined to the Cape ot(,ood Hope. Three of 

 the European species are also common to the Cape. 



98. UxVIOLA. X. 



Spikelets many-flowered, ovate, compressed, 

 ancipital. Calix of S to 5 .2:lunies. Corolla 2- 

 yalved, awnless; interior valve smaller. Stam- 

 ina 1 to 3. JVectarium 2 leaved, emarginate. 

 Stigmata long, muricate. Seed ovatei com- 

 pressed. 



Panicle various; in U. Spicata nearly a simple raceme* 

 in U. latifoUa the spiculi are veiy lari^e and tremulous, 

 as in the European species of Briza; in the U _^racilis\.he 

 spikelets are only 3-flovvered, in the other species the 

 spiculi have 7 to 10 flowers, in U- spicata sometimes as 

 many as 15, and the corolla glumes often numerously 

 nerved. This g-enus, apparently intermediate betwixt 

 1*00 and Festj/cuy is ref*dil} distinguished by its large, 

 fiat spikeiet , and abortive flov/er«, both at the base and 

 extremity of the spike, hence described as having- a calix 

 of more than 2 valves; though in tin U. spicata, referred 

 to Festnca by Michaux, there is seldom more than that 



f Culm erect, thick and leafy. Leaves flat, attenuated, from 

 6 to 12 inches lontc, smooth; stipulu truncate. Panicle semiver- 

 ticillate, rather Img, loose, and erect, branches decompound, 

 coarctate, racemiform; ped-cells capillary, flrxuose. Spiculi 

 cunnatc--oval, obtuse, 4 lo 6-fl()Vvered. talix very small, nerve- 

 less. Floscuii turgid (.bovate, prominently 7-n'ervfd, terete, 

 sometimes purplish at the point; inner valve concave, flat, large 

 as the outer, with an indurated nerved margin, inflected, and 

 extended a luile beyond the edge of the outer valve; nerves, 

 somewhat scabrous. Stamens generally 2, not exserted? Styles 

 short; stigmata plumose. 



Hab. In Canada and Pennsylvania. Scarcely belonging t© 

 this genus; apparently connecting Poa and Briza. 



