614 GRAMINE.E, (GRASS FAMILY.) 



4. E. Dudleyi, V;u«('v. Panicle racenioso, tlie sliort branches erect; 

 spiki'li'is 2-ll<i\\t.Tfil ; ^^liinies nearly ocjual, the lower uhlung, the iipiK-r elli|jti- 

 cal, with broad seariouts margins, ol)tuse or apiculate ; florets oljtuse. — < )ijen 

 woods iu the upper districts. — Culms 1^-2° iiigli. Leaves short aud flat. 



64. POA, L. MiiAiiow Gkass. 



Grasses with tufted culms, smootli tiat and tender leaves, and compressed 

 few-flowered spikelets iu loo.se or contracted ])anicles. Glumes unecpuil, 

 shorter tluui the florets. Flowering glume uearly membrauaceous, keeleil, 

 scarious ou the margius, awnless, 5-nerved, the three more prominent nerves 

 mostly hairy or woolly below ; palet 2-toothed, falling at maturity with the 

 lower one. Stameus 2-3. Stigmas plumose. Graiu free. 



« Branches of the panicle single, or in pairs. 



1. P. annua, L. Annual ; culms tender, spreading, 6'- 10' high ; leaves 

 linear, 3' -6' long, 1 J" wide; panicle ovate, the smooth branches at length 

 reflexed ; spikelets ovate, about 5-flowered ; glumes obtuse or emarginate, 

 half as long as the sparsely hairy obtuse florets. — Yards aud gardens, Florida, 

 and nortiiward. Feb, -March. Introduced. 



2. P. eristata, Walt. 1 Annual ; culms erect, 6' - 10' high ; leaves linear, 

 subulate, 1' long, ^" wide; pauicle linear or lanceolate, deuse, the lowest of 

 the rough branches spreading ; spikelets 3 - 5-flowered ; flowering glume with 

 a prominent crest-like fringe on the back, barely longer than the acute glumes. 

 — Dry soil around Quincy, Middle Florida. April. 



3. P. flexuosa, Muhl. Perennial; culms weak, mostly erect, 1°-H° 

 high ; leaves narrowly linear; branches of the panicle by pairs (l-J'-2' long), 

 capillary, widely spreading; spikelets 2-4 near the summit of each branch, 

 pale, oblong, 3 - 4-flowered ; glumes acute, the lower 1-nerved, the upper 5- 

 nerved ; flowering glume compressed and very obtuse at the apex, hairy on 

 the nerves. — Rich shaded soil, Florida, and northward. May. 



* * Branches of the panicle 3-6 in a cluster : perennials. 



4. P. Wolfli, Scribner. Culm slender, 2° high ; leaves narrow-linear ; 

 panicle loose, nodding, the branches in pairs or tlirees ; spikelets ovate, 3-5- 

 flowered ; empty glumes 3nerved ; flow-ering glumes 5-nerved, lanceolate, 

 keeled, the margins and keel villous, and a copious web at the base. — Cedar 

 glades of Tennessee (Gattitiger). 



5. P. pratensis, L. Culms terete, ascending from a creeping base, 

 smooth ; leaves mostly abruptly pointed ; branches of the pauicle expanding, 

 about 5 in a cluster ; spikelets ovate, 3 - 5-flowered, crowded ; florets closely 

 imbricated; flowering glume acutish, strongly nerved, hairy. — Rich soil, 

 mostly around dwellings. Introduced. May. — Culm l°-2°higli. 



6. P. trivialis, L. Culms terete, not creeping at the base, sca1)rous ; 

 leaves acute ; spikelets ovate, mostly 2-flowered ; empty glumes strongly 

 keeled, the lower l-nerved, the upper 3-nerved ; flowering glumes 5-nerved, 

 fringed on the keel, otherwise smooth. — Tennessee [Gattinger). 



7. P. COmpressa, L. Culms ascending from a creeping base, genicu- 

 late, and, like the slieaths, compressed ; panicle contracted, 1-sided, the short 



