40 POACEAE. 



2. Melica spectabilis Scribn. In meadows from Mont, to Wash., Colo, and 

 Oregon. — Alt. 8000-9000 ft. — Honnold; North Park; foot of Mt. Richtofen, 

 on the Michigan ; mountain west of Cameron Pass. 



3. Melica bulbosa Geyer. In meadows and on hillsides from Mont, to 

 Wash., Colo., Utah and Ore. — Rabbit-Ears, Larimer Co. ; Glenwood Springs, 

 Garfield Co. Osterhout's specimens (somewhat undeveloped) have unusually 

 broad leaves and may belong to the closely related M. califoriiica Scribn. 



58. DACTYLIS L. Orchard-grass. 



I. Dactylis glomerata L. Cultivated and naturalized from Europe; in fields 

 and waste places from N. B. to Wash., Fla. and Calif. — Alt. 4000-9000 ft. — 

 Cucharas River, below La Veta ; Chicken Creek ; Veta Pass, Costilla Co. ; 

 Fort Collins. 



59. BRIZA L. Quaking-grass. 



I. Briza maxima L. Introduced ornamental grass, and escaped along irri- 

 gation ditches. — Alt. about 7500 ft. — Gunnison. 



60. DISTICHLIS Raf. Salt-grass, Marsh Spike-grass. 



I. Distichlis stricta (Torn) Rydb. {D. maritima stricia Thurber.) In 

 salt marshes from Sask. to W'ash., Mo., Tex. and Calif. — Alt. 4000-7500 ft. — 

 Grand Junction; Deer Run; New Windsor, Weld Co.; near Denver; Fort 

 Collins ; Saguache Creek ; Alamosa ; Pueblo ; Rocky Ford. 



61. POA L. Blue-grass, Meadow-grass, Bunch-grass. 



Annuals. I. Annuae. 



Perennials. 



Cobweb at the base of the flowers present, although in some species scant ; 

 flowering glume acute (except in P. compressa), and usually strongly 

 keeled ; plants with horizontal rootstocks, never true bunch-grasses. 

 Intermediate nerves of the flowering glumes strong. 



Inflorescence with numerous many-flowered spikelets ; its branches in fruit 



ascending ; the lower in 3's or 4's ; flowering glumes acutish ; cobwel- 



copious. II. Pratenses. 



Inflorescence with usually few-flowered spikelets ; its branches reflexed or 



spreading in fruit ; flowering glumes very acute. 



Spikelets few and usually purplish ; branches of the inflorescence few, 



solitary or in pairs, only in P. callichroa in 3's. III. Reflexae. 

 Spikelets many, green ; branches of the inflorescence many ; the lower 

 often in 3's or 4's. IV. Platvphvllae. 



Intermediate veins of the flowering glumes faint or obsolete. 



Stem compressed ; panicles narrow, open. V. Compressae. 



Stem not compressed. 



Branches of the panicles reflexed. VI. Apertae. 



Branches of the large panicle not reflexed. 



Flowers green ; nerves of the empty glumes strong ; meadow species 



with flaccid leaves. VII. Serotinae. 



Flowers more or less purplish ; nerves of the empty glumes usually 

 faint ; hill species with rather stiff leaves. VIII. Rupicolae. 



Cobweb at the base of the flowers none. 



