012 GRAMIXK.K. ((IKASS FAMILY.) 



till' margins, 7-9-nerved. Florets similar, the glume scarious at the apex. 

 Stamens .i. Grain free. — Culms sim|(le. l{<)ot j)erennial. 



1. M. mutica, Walt. Culms slender, l°-2°higli; leaves and sheaths 

 puliesieiit or glabrous ; jjauide cum])osed of few simjile few-liowered Itranches, 

 or reduced to a sim])lc raceme; spikelets racemose, nodding, 2-flowered; 

 glumes nearly e(|ualling the spikelet, obtuse or acute; sterile flowers obovate. 

 — Rich open woods. April- May. 



2. M. diffusa, I'ursh. Culms 2° -4° high; panicle compound, many- 

 flowered ; spikelets mostly 3-iiowered ; glumes shorter than the spikelet ; 

 flowering glume acute. — Carolina (Pursh). 



60. GLYCERIA, Brown. 



Smooth perennial marsh or aquatic grasses, with flat leaves and few- or 

 many-flowered spikelets disposed in a simple or compound panicle, liachis 

 jointed. Glumes membranaceous, obtuse, persistent. Florets somewhat char- 

 taceous, early falling away with the separating joints of the rachis ; the glume 

 naked, convex, 5 - 7-nerved. Stamens 2-3. Grain free, oblong. 

 * Panicle contracted. 

 H- Spikelets terete, 5 - ISjlowered : flowering glume scabrous. 



1. G. fluitans, R. Brown. Culms thick, ascending from a creeping 

 base, 1°- .5^ long ; leaves long, broadly linear ; pani( Ic long and narrow ; spike- 

 lets linear, pale, loosely 7- 13-flowered (1' long) ; flowering glume obtuse, or 

 slightly 3-lobed at the scarious apex, roughish, 7-nerved. — Shallow water in 

 the upper districts, and northward. June -July. — Panicle 1° long. 



2. G. acutiflora, Torr. Culms slender, ascending, 2° -3° long ; leaves 

 linear ; panicle simple, the short branches distant and erect ; .spikelets 5-12- 

 flowered ; florets sul)ulate ; flowering glume acute, shorter than the long- 

 pointed palet. — Shallow ponds, Tennessee. June. 



-t- -I- Spikelets more or less compressed, 3 - 7-floivered. 



3. G. obtusa, Trin. Culms stout, 1°- 2° high ; leaves long, linear ; pan- 

 icle oblong, dense, 2' -3' long, the branches in pairs or threes ; spikelets 5-7- 

 flowered ; flowering glume obtuse, 5-nerved. — Coast of North Carolina. 



4. G. elongata, Trin. Culms slender, 2°- 3° long; leaves long, narrowly 

 linear, rough; panicle racemose, drooping, 1° or more long, the branches 

 single; spikelets 2 -4-flowered, ovate, obtu.se; flowering glume 5-nerved. — 

 Mountains of North Carolina. 



* * Panicle open or diffuse. 



."i. G. nervata, Trin. Culms erect ; panicle diffuse, the branches at length 

 drooping; spikelets purplish, very numerous, ovate-oblong, 5-6-flowered, 

 nearly terete ; flowering glume oblong, obtuse, 7-nerved. — Swamps and river 

 banks. July. — Culms 2° - 3° high. Spikelets 2" long. 



6. G. pallida, Trin. Culms erect or ascending ; panicle narrow, nearly 

 simple, with the branches erect; spikelets pale, oblong-linear, 5-9-flowered, 

 nearlv terete; flowering glume oblong, minutely .5-toothed, 7-nerved. — Shal- 

 low -water. North Carolina and Tennessee. July. — Culms l°-3° long, 

 Spikelets 3" long. 



