ORAMlNEiE. 449 



Tribk 8. CHLORIDES. 



Infloreicence scpiked. SpikeUt.i solitary, few-flou-ere J, the terminal flown often abortive. Clunui 

 carinate, not opposite. Upper patea with two keels. 



40. ELEUSl'NE. 



Spikes digitate, uniialeiiil ; si>il<elcls5 — T-flowercd; ^Itimos 

 obtuse, unequal, lower one smaller; paleyR unequal, ujjpcr one 

 bitid toothed; scales truncale, iinni)iiite ; car} opsis triangular, 

 ovale, enclosed in a separate membrane or perig}nium. 



E. I'ndica. Wire Grass. 



Stern oblique, compressed, prncumbenl and branching at base, 12 — ICinclies 

 loii(r ; learrs linear, sofiievvhat luiirv, on smooth, h)iise sheaths hairy at the 

 tliroat ; s/iilics 2 — 4, rarely more or less, lirifar, straight ; s/;/7.e/(/s closely 

 imbricate, smooth ; v/iper ghnueb-neTVcd ; fruit dark brovvn. Coimaon about 

 houses, tbot-paths, »fcc. Aug. 



TiuBE 9. TRITICEjE. 



Liflorescfncf .y^iked. Spikelets solitary, in pairs, or several tognher, one., few or mnny-fovered. 



Glumes mostly two, equal and typpositr, rardy vnecjunl and alternate. Loictr paUa utineU vr 



awnless. vpper one witlitii'O keels. 



41. T R 1' T I C U M . 



S|iil<elcts imbricated in 2 i^mvs, sessile on the teeth of the 

 rachis, ahout 5-{lo\vered. with the U[)pcr iloweis abortive; 

 glumes 2, equal, opposite, ovate, concave. mucroi»ate ; paleas 

 2, lower awned or mucronate ; scales 2. collateral. 



1. T. SATi'vuM. fl. hybernum. L.' Wintrr U'lirat. 



Sum round, smooth, the inlernodes somewhat inflated, 3— 5 feet high ; /fares 

 lance-linear, nerved, roughish above ; stijiulc truncate; fjiif.e parallel, some- 

 what 4-.sided ; spU.elcts ctowiIvl\, broad-ovate, about 4-flowered; glumes 

 ventricose ; uions of the upper piled generally longer than the t^owers. Tins 

 is without doubt the most valuable plant of the order ; is universally cultivated 

 and may be regardetl as naturalized. Biennial. Many varieties are known 

 lo farmers, of which the most im[)ortant are 



fi. ic.'-linnn ; ^/j/mrs alvvava awned. Annual. Summer Ji Iienf. 



y. cimipislum; spike compound ; spt/cclc's awned. EgypUun !l hcuC. 



2. T. RKPF.NS. 



Sirm trailing at the lower joints, about "2 feet long; /core's lance- linear, 

 rough above and somewh;it hairy ; si pule short, truncate ; spike, compressed ; 

 spikelets remote, alternate, lanct -oblong. .5— l)-flovvered ; irimncs lanceolate, 

 5-nerved, acuu)inate. A vile weed, in fields and gardens, extremely difficult 

 to eradicate. June — Aug. 



42. SECA'LE. 

 Spikelets solilary on the teelh of the rachis, 2 — S-Howered, 

 tt)c two lower flowers ferille, sessile, opposite, the u()per one 

 abortive; glumes subulate, opposite, shorter than the flowers; 

 lower palea with a very long awn, upper often bifid at apex; 

 scales abortive, hairy. 



S. Ckkfa'i.k. Rijit. 



Stem hairy beneath the spike, 4 — C feel high ; lenvfs lance-linear, rough- 

 edged and rough above, glaiico\is ; .«;?//, e about 5 inches long. linear, com- 

 pressed ; /Ki/ca smooth, lovirer ciliate on the keel and margin; «tcrti- .scabrous- 



