GRAMINACEiE. 453 



** Flower a in spikes. 



2. A. scopariiis Mich. : spikes simple, lateral and terminal, pedunculate, 

 in pairs ; lower flower neutral, awned ; glumes of the perfect flower smooth ; 

 awn twisted. A. purp^irascens Willd. 



Old fields and road sides. N. Y. and Mass. to Car. W. to Ohio. Aug. % 

 • — Culm about 3 feet high, with lateral scattered branches. Leaves flat, some- 

 what hairy. Spikes on a flexuous rachis, often purple. 



Purple Bear-grass. Broum-grass. 



3. A. furcatus MuhL. : spikes digitate, generally in threes or fours ; lower 

 flower staminate, awnless ; awn of the perfect flower somewhat contorted. 



Rocky grounds. N. Y. and Mass. to Car. W. to Ark. Aug., Sept. %..— 

 Culm 3—4 feet high, simple or somewhat branching. JLeaves flat ; the lower 

 very long. Spikes about 3 inches long, 3 — 5 or more at the summit of the culm. 



Forked Beard-grass. 



4. A. macrourus Mich. : spikes fasciculate, in dense lateral and terminal 

 fastigiate panicles ; lower flower a mere rudiment without valves ; perfect 

 flower monandrous, the awn straight. 



Swamps, especially near salt water. N. Y. and Mass. to Flor. Sept., Oct. 

 %. — Culm 3 feet high, much branched towards the top. Leaves roughish ; the 

 lower long. Spikes yery numerous, in large clustered panicles, partly concealed 

 in the boat-like sheaths. Many-spiked Beard-grass. 



5. A. Virginicus Linn. : culm somewhat compressed; sheaths smooth; 

 spikes short, 2 — 3 from each sheath, in slender fascicles, lateral and termi- 

 nal ; lower flower a mere pedicel without glumes ; perfect flower monan- 

 drous, the awn straight. A. dissitiflorum Mich. 



Dry swamps. N. Y. and Mass. to Flor. Sept. %. — CwZms about 3 feet high, 

 somewhat cespitose, with short branches above. Leaves a foot or more in 

 length, the lower hairy on the upper surface. Spikes partly concealed in sheaths. 



Virginian Beard-grass. 



