3S POACEAE. 



keel, narrow, the first shorter than the second, about f as long as 

 the broad and strongly compressed third one. 



Common along irrigation ditches and roadsides. Native of 

 Europe. Commonly called Bermuda-grass and extensively used 

 for lawns. 



24. SPARTINA Schreb. Cord-grass. 



Perennial glabrous grasses with long horizontal root- 

 stocks, fiat or involute leaves, and an inflorescence of 

 1 -sided spreading or erect alternate spikes. Spikelets 

 1 -flowered narrow deciduous, borne in 2 rows on the 

 rachis, articulated on very short pedicels below the 

 glumes. Glumes 3 ; the outer 2 empty keeled very un- 

 equal, the third subtending a perfect flower, keeled, 

 equaling or shorter than the second. Pales often larger 

 than its glume, 2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles filiform, 

 elongated; stigmas filiform, papillose or shortly plumose. 

 Grain free. 



1. S. glabra Muhl. Culms simple, stout, 6-15 dm. high; sheaths 

 glabrous, the lower ones crowded; leaves 5-7 dm. long, 1-1.5 cm. 

 wide, usually flat, tapering to a long involute tip, smooth; panicles 

 2-4 dm. long, strict; spikes 5-15 cm. long; spikelets crowded, 10-14 

 mm. long; empty glumes glabrous or sparingly scabrous on the 

 keel, the first 6-8 mm., the second 10-14 mm. long; flowering glume 

 8-10 mm. long; palea slightly exceeding the glume. 



Occasional in the salt marshes along the coast. Wilmington. 



2. S. foliosa Trin. Culms erect, 6-8 dm. high, stout; sheaths 

 smooth, crowded at least above; leaves 2-3 dm. long, about 1 cm. 

 wide, smooth, tapering to a long involute tip; panicle 10-15 cm. 

 long, nearly cylindric; spikes 2-5 cm. long, appressed; spikelets 

 crowded, 12-14 mm, long, glabrous or the empty glumes usually 

 stoutly ciliate on the keels; the first empty glume narrow, 7-8 mm., 

 the second 12-14 mm. long; flowering glume 10-12 mm. long, 

 slightly shorter than the palea. 



This has been found at San Diego and may occur within our 

 limits. It is easily recognized by its dense spike-like inflorescence 

 and leafy culms. 



25. LEPTOCHLOA Beauv. 



Mostly rather tall annual grasses with flat leaves and 

 numerous spikes forming a simple panicle. Spikelets 

 2-many-flowered, flattened, alternating in 2 rows on one 

 side of the rachis. Glumes 4-many, the 2 lower empty, 

 keeled, 3-nerved. Palea 2-nerved. Stamens 3. Styles 

 distinct. Grain free, enclosed in the scale and palea. 



1. L. filiformis Beauv. Culms 3-9 dm. high, erect, branched, 

 smooth; sheaths shorter than the internodes, smooth; ligule short, 



