20 POACEAE. 



of which are slender. Spikelets often with a cartilaginous ring at the base, 

 articulated below the scales, compressed, 1-flowered. Scales 2, compressed- 

 keeled, somewhat rigid, awnless, the first scale empty, usually ciliate on the 

 keel, broader than the second which encloses a perfect flower but no palet. 

 Stamens 1-6. Styles short or slender, distinct. Stigmas plumose with branched 

 hairs. [Leersia Sw., not Hedw.] — Cut-grass. 



Panicle-branches singly disposed, usually less than 8 : stamens 1 or 2. 



1. H. virginicus. 

 Panicle-branches, at least the lower ones, in whorls or approxi- 

 mate in pairs, usually exceeding 15 : stamens 3. 2. H. oryzoides. 



1. H. virginicus (Willd.) Britton. Stems 6-13 dm. tall, slender, pubescent 

 at the nodes: leaf -blades erect or ascending, 3-20 cm. long, 2-11 mm. wide: 

 panicle 6-20 cm. long, its branches finally spreading, slender : stamens 2. — 

 Eather common, in swamps and wet places. — Sum. and fall. — White-grass. 



2. H. oryzoides (L.) Poll. Stems 8-15 dm. tall, often rooting at the lower 

 nodes: leaf -blades 6-20 cm. long, 5-13 mm. wide: panicle 1-2 dm. long: spike- 

 lets 4-4.5 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. broad, the keels aculeate, the surface hispidu- 

 lous: stamens 3. — Eather common, in swamps. — Sum. and fall. — EiCE cut- 

 grass. 



13. PHALARIS L. Annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaf -blades and 

 terminal panicles which are cylindric and spike-like, capitate, or densely 

 thyrsoid and somewhat interrupted. Spikelets articulated above the empty 

 scales, compressed, 1-flowered, crowded. Scales 5, the 2 lower persistent, larger 

 than the rest, thin-paleaceous, compressed-keeled, the keel usually more or less 

 winged, sometimes wingless, awnless; third and fourth scales shorter, very thin 

 and narrowly lanceolate, sometimes reduced to bristles, or rarely one of them 

 wanting; a fifth scale chartaceous, at length indurated, awnless, sometimes 

 pointed, obscurely 3-5-nerved, the midnerve sometimes obsolete, enclosing a 

 faintly 2-nerved palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Stamens 3. 

 Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. 



Outer scales of the spikelets not winged : panicle elongate. 1. P. arundinacea. 



Outer scales of the spikelets winged : panicle short. 2. P. canariensis. 



1. P. arundinacea L. Stems erect, 6-15 dm. tall: leaf-blades 1-2.5 dm. long, 

 6-14 mm. wide, smooth or rough: panicle 7-20 cm. long, its branches erect or 

 ascending: spikelets 5-6 mm. long. Eather common, in wet places. — Sum. — 

 Eeed canary-grass. 



2. P. canariensis L. Stems 3-9 dm. tall, erect: leaf -blades 5-30 cm. long, 

 4-12 mm. wide, very rough: panicle ovoid or oblong, 1.5-4 cm. long, 1-2 cm. in 

 diameter: spikelets 6-8 mm. long. — Common, in waste places about towns and 

 cities. Nat. of Eu. — Sum. — Canary-grass. 



14. ANTHOXANTHXJM L. Erect aromatic annual or perennial grasses, 

 with flat leaf -blades and terminal usually dense spike-like panicles. Spikelets 

 articulated above the empty scales, 1-flowered, narrow, a little compressed, 

 crowded. Scales 5, the 2 outer persistent, empty, acute, mucronate, or short- 

 awned, the second longer than the others, the third and fourth scales much 

 shorter, empty, narrow, keeled, awned at the middle or near the base, the fifth 

 scale shorter than the remainder, hyaline, obtuse, awnless, enclosing a 1 -nerved 

 palet and a perfect flower. Stamens 2. Styles distinct. Stigmas elongate, 

 plumose. 



