562 GRAMmK.*:. (okass famii.t.) 



on lonflfss rndiciil culms ; lowi-r palcii (ti" loti'r) ovatc-ljinconlnfc, smooth, frinpf'l 

 on the mar<riiis, iiwn-pointcd. (Arundo lectu, Walt.) — Swamps, Florida to 

 North Carolina. Feb. and Marrh. 



30. BRIZOPYRUM, Link. 



A low and rigid perennial diu'cious grass, growing in saline marshes, with 

 linear-subulate involute distichous leaves, and many-flowered compressed spike- 

 lets, crowded in a nearly simple spike. Glumes and j)alcse smooth, somewhat 

 coriaceous, obtuse, compressed, not keeled ; the lower ones several-nerved. Sta- 

 mens 3. Stigmas 2. (Jrain oblong, free. 



1. B. spicatum, Hook. Rootstocks long and creeping; culms l°liigh; 

 leaves spreading, rigid, 2' -4' long, smooth, like the imbricated sheaths ; spike- 

 lets oblong, 7 - 15-flowcred. (Uniola spicata, Ell.) — Low sandy shores and 

 marshes, West Florida, and northward. Aug. and Sept. 



31. POA, L. Mkadow-Gra.ss. 



Grasses with tufted culms, smooth flat and tender leaves, and compres.sed few- 

 flowered spikelets in loose or contracted panicles. Glumes unequal, shorter 

 tiian the flowers. Lower palea nearly membranaceous, keeled, scarious on the 

 margins, awnless, .5-ncrved, the three more prominent nerves mostly hairy or 

 woolly below ; Hi)per palea 2-toothed, falling at maturity with the lower one. 

 Stamens 2-3. Stigmas plumose. Grain free. 



* Branches of the panicle single, or hi/ pairs. 



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

 linear, 3' -6' long, 1^" 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 flowers. — Yards and gardens, Florida, and 

 nonhward. Feb. and March. Introduced. 



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

 subulate, 1 ' long, ^" wide ; panicle linear or lanceolate, dense, the lowest of the 

 rough branches spreading; spikelets 3 - .5-flowered ; lower palea with a promi- 

 nent 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, I°-l^° 

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

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

 oblong, 3 -4-flowered ; glumes acute ; lower palea compressed and very obtuse 

 at the apex, hairy on the nerves. (P. autumnalis, A7/.) — Rich shaded soil, 

 Florida, and northward. May. 



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



4. P. pratensis, T>. Culms terete, ascending from a creeping base ; leaves 

 mostlv abruptly pointed ; branches of the panicle expanding, about .5 in a clus- 

 ter ; spikelets ovate, 3 - 5-flowered, crowded ; flowers closely imbricated ; lowei 



