14 POACEAE. 



in 2 's or 3 's on one side of the flat and winged or triangular rachis, one of the 

 spikelets generally longer-pedic^lled than the rest. Scales 3 or 4, the 3 outer 

 membranous, the first small or wanting, the fourth scale chartaceous, glabrous 

 and shining, at length indurated, enclosing a palet of similar texture and a 

 perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. — Cr-^b-grass. 

 Finger-grass. 



Rachis of the racemes merely angled : first scale wanting or rarely rudimentary. 



1. 8. filiforime. 

 Rachis of the racemes with the lateral angles winged. 



Foliage glabrous : spikelets usually of 3 scales. 2. 8. humifusum. 



Foliage pubescent : spikelets of 4 scales. .3. S. sanguinale. 



1. S. filiforme (L.) Nash. Stems 1.5-7 dm. tall: leaf -blades 3-20 cm. long, 

 1-4 mm. wide, erect: racemes 2-5, 2-10 cm. long, erect or ascending, alternate: 

 spikelets about 1.8 mm. long, 0.75 mm. wide, appressed-pubescent with long 

 glandular-tipped hairs. [^Panicum 'filiforme L.] — Common, on roadsides and in 

 fields. — Sum. and fall. 



2. S. humifusum (Pers.) Eydb. Stems 2-5 dm. long: leaf -blades 1.5-15 cm. 

 long, 2.5-6 mm. wide: racemes 2-5, 2-8 cm. long: spikelets slightly exceeding 2 

 mm. long, appressed-pubescent, the second about equalling the third, the fourth 

 deep chestnut-brown when mature. — Eather rare, in waste grounds and fields. 

 Nat. of Eu. — Sum. and fall. 



3. S. sanguinale (L.) Dulac. Stems 1 m. long or less: lower leaf -sheaths densely 

 papillose-hirsute; blades 4-20 cm. wide, more or less papillose-hirsute: racemes 

 3-10, 5-18 cm. long: spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long, appressed-pubescent, the second 

 scale about \ as long as the spikelets, the fourth yellowish-white when mature. 

 — Common, in cultivated and waste grounds. Nat. of Eu. — Sum. and fall. 



7. ECHINOCHLOA Beauv. Often tall grasses, with flat leaf -blades, the 

 inflorescence composed of several to many unilateral more or less spreading 

 spike-like racemes. Spikelets 1-2-flowered, lanceolate to ovate or orbicular- 

 ovate, crowded in small clusters or racemes in 2 rows on one side of the flat 

 rachis. Scales 4, the 3 outer membranous, spiny-hirsute or hispid externally, 

 the first much shorter than the spikelet, often awn-pointed, the second and third 

 awn-pointed or awned (rarely awnless), the latter bearing the longer awn and 

 rarely enclosing a palet and sometimes also a staminate flower; fourth scale 

 chartaceous, glabrous and shining, at length indurated, acute or acuminate, 

 enclosing a shorter palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. 



1. E. Crus-galli (L.) Beauv. Stems 6-12 dm. tall: leaf -blades 1.5-6 dm long, 

 6^25 mm. wide: panicle of 5-15 branches: spikelets ovate, about 4 mm. long, 

 exclusive of the awn, hispidulous, hispid on the nerves. — Common, in cultivated 

 soil. Nat. of Eu. — Sum. and fall. — Barnyard-grass. 



8. PANICUM L. Annual or perennial grasses, varying much in habit, with 

 elongate or flat and broad leaf -blades, and the spikelets in open or contracted 

 panicles. Spikelets 1-2-flowered, lanceolate, oblong, ovate to obovate or glo- 

 bose, obtuse to acute or acuminate. Scales 4, the 3 outer membranous, the 

 first and second empty, the first usually much shorter than the spikelet, some- 

 times minute, the third one empty or enclosing a shorter hyaline palet and 

 often also a staminate flower; fourth scale shorter and usually more obtuse than 

 the others, chartaceous, glabrous and shining, at length indurated, enclosing a 

 palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. — Panic-grass. 



