300 TRiANDRiA DiGYNiA. Tanicum, 



smooth. — Leaves tending to be bifarious, short, smooth, tapering 

 fioin the base to a sharp point. — Spikes compound, secund. Spike- 

 lets, from six to twelve, alternate, somewhat remote, secund. liachis, 

 both common and partial three-sided; the two sides from whence 

 the spikelets issue concave. — Flozcers two or three from the same 

 point, generally three ; all sessile, or very nearly so ; sometimes a 

 few small bristles mixed with them. — Calj/x as in the genus, all the 

 glumes three-nerved, a little hairy, and scabrous. — Carol, the neu- 

 ter valve is here present, but no stamens. — Seed broad, oval, smooth, 

 a little pointed, three-nerved. 



OIjs. Cattle are very fond of it, yet it is not cultivated in these 

 parts. 



QG. p. grossaiium. Linn. Sp. PL ed. JlilUh i. 349. 



Culms, creeping. Leaves soft and downy. Spikes from six to ten; 

 flowers solitary, sub-sessile. Corol ihree-valved. Seed oblong, 

 licute, transversely rugose. 



Loves fresh pasture ground. 



Culms, in a good soil creeping to a great length, in a poor soil 

 nearly erect. — Leaves, lapi-iiiig from the base to a fine point, some- 

 >vhat downy, and very soft. — Spikes compound, secund. Spikelets 

 from four to twelve, alternate, secund, expanding on one side, most 

 simple, in two rows.— Ca/i/x pretty smooth. — Corol, the neuter 

 valve is always present. Nectary a rugose gland between the germ 

 and exterior valve of the corol. — Seed oblong, white, slightly rugose 

 in a Uaus verse direction. 



06s. The form and rugosity of the seed distinguish it from P. 

 coloHum, the flowers also are here single, iheie two or three Irom 

 the same point. 



27. p. vmhro&iim. LJnn. Sp. PI ed. IVilld. i. 343. 



Culms, at the base creeping. Leaves soft. Spikes, from six to ten ; 

 jlowers paired on a common pedicel, Corol three-valved. SeeC^ 

 ovatC;, longitudinally streaked, and transversely rugose, 



