556 GRAMINE^. (grass FAMILY.) « 



16. SPAETINA, Schicb. Marsh-Grass. 



Rigid perennial grasses, growing chiefly in saline marshes, with simple culms, 

 concave or convolute leaves, and flattened 1 -flowered spikelets, closely imbricated 

 in two rows on one side of the triangular rachis, forming appresscd or spreading 

 alternate spikes. Glumes 2, unequal, acute or short-awncd, commonly bristly- 

 serrulate on the keel ; the upper mostly longer than the unequal awnlcss palcse. 

 Stamens 1-3. Styles long, united below, or nearly distinct. Grain free. 

 * Leaves convolute, rush-lik-e. 



1. S. juncca, Willd. Spikes 3 - 9, remote, erect ; glumes hispid-serrulate 

 on the keel, tlic upper 2-3 times longer than tlic lower one ; lower palca, and 

 sometimes the upper also, rough above. — Sandy or marshy places along the 

 coast, Florida, and northward. July and Aug. — Culms 1°- 3° high. Leaves 

 pungent. Spikes 1'- 2' long. Stamens 1-3. 



2. S. gracilis, Hook. Spikes 15-30, closely imbricated in a cylindrical 

 spike, the lowest rather distinct ; glumes hispid on the back, the upper one third 

 longer than the lower one, obtuse, mucronate ; palca; obtuse, the lower rough on 

 the back, the upper smooth. — Sandy saline swamps. West Florida. July and 

 Aug. — Culms (l°- 2° high) and rush-like leaves very rigid. Common spike 

 4' - 6' long. Proper spikes 4" - 6" long. 



* * Leaves concave or flat. 



3. S. polystachya, Willd. Spikes numerous, spreading ; upper glume 

 and nearly eciual paleae slightly roughened, 2-3 times longer than the lower 

 one; leaves broad (i'-l^')> concave, very rough on the margins. — Brackish 

 marshes, Florida to North Carolina. Aug. and Sept. — Culms stout, 4° -8° 

 high. Spikes 2'-3' long, racemed. 



4. S. glabra, Muhl. Spikes numerous, appressed to the common rachis ; 

 upper glume linear, obtuse, 3 times the length of the lower one, and, like the 

 palese, very smooth ; leaves concave, smooth on the margins. — Salt marshes, 

 Florida, and northward. Aug. and Sept. — Culms 2° -4° high. Leaves nar- 

 rower than the last, elongated. 



17. GYMNOPOGON, Beauv. 



Low perennial grasses, with short and crowded distichous spreading leaves. 

 Spikelets appressed, scattered on the straight and at length reflcxed branches of 

 the simple panicle, consisting of one perfect flower, and the awn-like pedicel of a 

 second flower above. Glumes 2, sul)ulate, hispid-serrulate. Talca; 2, shorter 

 than the glumes, tiie lower one awned under the apex. Stamens 3. 



1. G. racemosus, Beauv. Culms (1° high) rigid; leaves lanceolate 

 (1^'- 2' long) ; i»nmclics of the panicle bearing the linear spikelets from the 

 base to the summit ; awn 2-3 times the length of the palere and the pedicel of 

 the sterile flower. ( Androfjogon ambiguus, Michx.) — Var. fi i.ikormis has nar- 

 rower leaves, the spikelets bonio above the middle of the branciios, and the awns 

 and sterile pedicel shorter llum tiie paku;. — Dry sandy .soil, Fiorid.i, and north- 

 ward. Sept. and Oct. 



