556 GRAMINK.i:. (r.UASS FAMILY.) 



16. SPARTINA, Sdirili. Mausii-Gkass. 



Ripid pcronniiil prnsscs, growin<r diii'fly in s-alinc marshes, with simple culms, 

 concave or convolute leaves, and flattened 1-ttowered spikelets, closely inil)ricaled 

 in two rows on one side of tlic trianjjular raehis, forming appressed or spreading 

 alternate spikes. Glumes 2, unequal, acute or shoft-awned, commonly bristly- 

 serrulate on the keel ; the upper mostly longer than tiic unetjuul awn less paleae. 

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

 * Leaves convohile, rusli-like. 



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

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

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

 coast, Florida, and northward. July and Aug. — Culms l°- 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 upjier one third 

 longer than the lower one, obtuse, mucronate ; paleae 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, AVilUl. Spikes numerous, spreading ; upper glume 

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

 one; leaves broad (|'-1^')> 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 raehis ; 

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

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

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

 rower than the last, elongated. 



17. GYMNOPOGON, BeauT. 



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, subulate, hispid-serrulate. I'aleae 2, shorter 

 than the glumes, the lower one awncd under the apex. Stamens 3. 



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

 (l^'-2' long) ; branches of the panicle bearing the linear spikelets from the 

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

 the sterile flower. ( Andropogon ambiguus, Michr.) — Var. fimformis has nar- 

 rower leaves, the spikelets borne above the middle of the branches, and the awns 

 and sterile pedicel sliorter than the palea;. — Dry sandy soil, Florida, and north- 

 ward. Sept. and Oct. 



