GRAMINEJ2. (GRASS FAMILY.) 593 
much as in Sedges: the panicle loose and open. (Name from 
y\vK€po£, sweet , alluding to the sweet-tasted grain.) 
* Spikelets ovate : upper palca very obtuse and entire : stamens 2. 
1. G. Canadensis, Trin. (Rattlesnake-Grass.) Panicle 
oblong-pyramidal, at length spreading, and the tumid oblong-ovate 6- 
8-flowered spikelets drooping; lower palea ovate, acutish, longer than 
the rounded upper one; leaves long, roughish. (Briza Canadensis, 
Michx. Poa Can., Beauv., ^e.) — Boggy places, common northward. 
July.— A handsome, stout, upright grass, 2° - 3° high. Spikelets 2 ,f 
long, becoming very broad : glumes purjAish. 
2. G. ofotusa, Trin. Panicle narrowly oblong, dense (3' long) ; 
the 6-7-fiowered tumid-ovate spikelets erect, short-pedicelled ; lower 
palea ovate, obtuse, the upper as long when old. (Poa obtusa, Muhl) 
— Bogs, E. Massachusetts to Penn., rare. Aug. — Culm stout, l°-2° 
high, very leafy: leaves long, smooth. Spikelets 3" long, pale: 
nerves inconspicuous. 
3. G. elongrata, Trin. Panicle narrowly racemose, elongated 
(1° long), somewhat one-sided, recurving; the branches appressed, 
bearing the 3-4-flowered erect spikelets nearly to the base; lower 
palea oblong-ovate, obtuse, rather longer than the upper; leaves very 
(1° or more) long, rough. (Poa elongata, Torr.) — Wet woods, com¬ 
mon northward. July. — Spikelets pale, l w - long : the flowers 
short-pedicelled! 
* * Spikelets oblong, diffusely panicled: upper palea 2-toothed: stam. 3. 
4. G. llCFVata, Trin. Branches of the broad and open panicle 
capillary, at length drooping , the very numerous small spikelets ovate- 
oblong, 3 - 7-flowered ; palea oval, obtuse , nearly equal in length ; 
leaves rather lQng. (P. nervata, tVilld. P. striata, Michx. P. par- 
viflora, Pursh.) — Moist meadows, very common. June. — Culm 
erect, l°-3° high. Spikelets seldom 2" long, commonly purplish. 
5. G. pallida, Trin. Branches of the rather simple panicle 
capillary, erect-spreading, rough ; the spikelets usually few, somewhat 
appressed, oblong-linear, 5 —7-flowered (pale, ^ long); pale® nearly 
equal ; the loicer oblong , minutely 5 -toothed at the scarious truncate- 
obtuse apex, the upper lanceolate, conspicuously 2-toothed; leaves 
short, sharp-pointed, pale. (Windsoria pallida, Torr. Poa dentata, 
Torr ) _Shallow water, common, especially northward. July.— 
Culms slender, 1°-3P long, ascending from a creeping base. 
6. G. aqudtica, Smith. Panicle much branched, ample (8' - 
15' long), the numerous branches ascending, spreading with age ; spike- 
lets oblong or linear-oblong , 5-9-flowered (usually purplish, 2" - 3" 
long) ; lower palea oval, truncate-obtuse, the upper rather shorter; 
leaves large (1° - 2° long, *' to 4' wide). — Wet meadows, &c., com¬ 
mon northward. July. — Culm stout, upright, 3 d -5° high. 
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