GRAMINACE^. 451 



52. ELYMUS. Linn.— Lyme Grass. 



(From tXw/iof, a name given by the Greeks to the panic-grasses, because they 

 grew abundantly about Elyma, in Greece. Hook. Fl. Br.) 



Spikelets 2 or more at each joint of the rachis, 2 — 7-flow- 



ered, the upper flowers imperfect. Glumes 2, nearly equal, 



subulate, rarely 1 or wanting. Palese 2, lanceolate, subcoria- 



ceous ; the lower one usually awned. — Spike simple. 



1 . E. Virginicns Linn. : spike erect, dense ; spikelets in pairs. 2 — 3- 

 flowered, the flowers nearly smooth ; glumes lanceolate, nerved, as long as 

 the spikelets. 



Banks of streams. N. Y. and Mass. to Geor. W. to Mich, and Ark. July, 

 Aug. %. — Culm 3 — 4 feet high, smooth. Leaves broad-linear, flat, scabrous, 

 deep green. Spike 3 — 5 inches long, stiffly erect, thick. 



Virginian Lyme-grass. Wild Rye. 



2. E. Canadensis Linn. : spike rather spreading, nodding at the ex- 

 tremity ; spikelets in pairs, 3 — 5-flovirered ; flovs^ers hairy ; glumes lanceo- 

 late-subulate, awned, conspicuously nerved. E. glaucifolius and Philadel- 

 phicus Willd. 



River banks. Subarct. Amer. to Del. W. to Miss. Aug. %■. — Root creep 

 ing. Culm 3 — 4 feet high, erect. Leaves broad-linear, flat, somewhat rough. 

 Spike 6 — 8 inches long, at length nodding. Canadian Lyme-grass. 



3. E. mllosns Muhl. : spike loose, somewhat nodding ; rachis and flow- 

 ers hispid-pilose ; spikelets mostly in pairs, 1 — 3-flowered ; glumes linear, 

 nairy-ciliate, 2 — 3-nerved. E. ciliatus Muhl. 



Banks of streams. N. Y. and Mass. to Virg. July. %.—Culm 2—3 feet 

 high, rather slender, smooth. Leaves lanceolate, somewhat pubescent above ; 

 the lower sheaths hairy. Spike 2 — 3 inches long, at length spreading and some- 

 what nodding. Hairy Lyme-grass. 



4. E. Hystrix Linn. : spike erect ; spikelets in pairs or ternate, distant, 

 diverging, about 3-flowered ; flowers awned ; glumes minute or wanting. 



Rocky woods. Can. to Car. W. to Miss. July. %..—Culm 2—4 feet high, 

 erect, smooth. Leaves broad-linear, flat, often glaucous. Spike 4 — 6 inches 

 long, at length spreading so as to resemble an apothecary's bottle washer. 



Bottle-brush Grass. 



5. E. striaius Willd. : spike erect ; spikelets in pairs, 2-flowered, awned, 

 hispid ; glumes linear, nerved, awned, nearly as long as the spikelets. 



Shady woods. Mass. and N. Y. to Virg. W. to Mich, and Ark. June. %. 

 — Culm 8 inches high, erect, striate. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, rough 

 above, sheaths smooth. Spike somewhat spreading, the rachis pubescent. 



Striated Lyme-grass. 



53. HORDEUM. Linn.— Beirley. 



(An ancient Latin name, the origin of which is doubtful.) 



Spikelets 3 at each joint of the rachis, the lateral ones often 



abortive, each 1 -flowered, with a subulate rudiment of a second 



flower. Glumes 2, nearly equal, collateral, lance-linear, flat, 



awned. Paleae 2, the lower with a long awn ; the uppej 2- 



keeled, obtuse — Spike simple. 



