GRASS FAMILY. 187 
64. MOLINIA Schrank, Baier. Fl. 1: 100. 1789. 
A perennial tufted grass, with narrow flat leaves and paniculate inflorescence. Spikelets 
2-4-flowered. ‘Two lower scales empty, somewhat obtuse or acute, unequal, shorter than the 
spikelet; flowering scales membranous, rounded on the back, 3-nerved; palets scarcely shorter 
than the scales, obtuse, 2-keeled. Stamens3. Stylesshort. Stigmas short, plumose. Grain 
oblong, free, enclosed in the scale and palet. [Name in honor of Joh. Ignaz Molina, Chilian 
missionary and naturalist. ] 
A monotypic genus of Europe and Asia. 
1. Molinia coertlea (I,.) Moench. Molinia. 
(Fig. 427.) 
Altra coerulea \,. Sp. Pl. 63. 1753- 
Molinia coerulea Moench, Meth. 183. 1794. 
Culms 1°-3%° tall, erect, simple, smooth and glabrous. 
Sheaths overlapping and confined to the lower part of the 
culm, smooth and glabrous; ligule a ring of very short 
hairs; leaves 4/-1° long or more, 1’/-3’’ wide, erect, acu- 
minate, smooth beneath, slightly scabrous above; panicle 
3-10’ in length, green or purple, the branches usually 
erect, 1/-4’ long; spikelets 2-4-flowered, 214/’-4’’ long; 
empty scales acute, unequal; flowering scales about 2// 
long, 3-nerved, obtuse. 
Sparingly introduced on ballast and in waste places in New 
York. Adventive from Europe. Aug.-Sept. 
65. ERAGROSTIS Beauv. ISTLOSE OM wp ait feelin LOU2. 
Annual or perennial grasses, rarely dioecious, from a few inches to several feet in height, 
the spikelets in contracted or open panicles. Spikelets 2-many-flowered, more or less flat- 
tened. Two lower scales empty, unequal, shorter than the flowering ones, keeled, 1-nerved, 
or the second 3-nerved; flowering scales membranous, keeled, 3-nerved; palets shorter than 
the scales, prominently 2-nerved or 2-keeled, usually persisting on the rachilla after the fruit- 
ing scale has fallen. Stamens2or3. Stylesdistinct, short. Stigmasplumose. Grain free, 
loosely enclosed in the scale and palet. [Greek etymology doubtful, perhaps signifying a 
low grass, or Love-grass, an occasional English name. ] 
A genus of about 100 species, widely distributed throughout all warm and temperate countries. 
Besides the following, some 15 others occur in the southern and western parts of North America. 
Culms often decumbent at the base and generally much branched, 11° tall or less. 
Spikelets 2-5-flowered, 1/'-14"' long. 
Culms branched only at the very base; pedicels and branches of the panicle long and 
capillary. 1. £. capillaris. 
Culms branched above the base; pedicels and branches of the panicle short. 
2. E. Frankit. 
Spikelets 5-many-flowered, 114'’-8’’ long. 
Spikelets 4'’ wide or less. 
Flowering scales thin, usually bright purplish, the lateral nerves faint or wanting; 
spikelets about '%'’ wide. 3. LE. pilosa. 
Flowering scales firm, usually dull purple or green, the lateral nerves very prominent; 
spikelets about %'’ wide. = 4. E. Purshii, 
Spikelets 1’’ wide or more. 
Lower flowering scales about %"’ long; spikelets 1'’ wide. 5. E. Eragrostis. 
Lower flowering scales 1''-1 4%’ long; spikelets 14%'’-1%'' wide. 6. &. major. 
Culms erect or ascending, simple, rigid, 1%4°-4° tall. 
Spikelets not clustered. 
Branches of the open panicle widely spreading, at least when old. 
Spikelets closely sessile. i 7. E. sesstlispica. 
Spikelets more or less pedicelled. 
Pedicels long, commonly at least the length of the spikelets. 9. 2. pectinacea. 
Pedicels commonly much shorter than the spikelets. 
Leaves elongated; branches of the panicle long and slender; spikelets scattered, 
6-25-flowered. 10. £. refracta. 
Leaves not elongated; branches of the panicle short and stout, rigid, spikelets 
crowded, 5-12-flowered. 8. £. curtipedicellata. 
Branches of the elongated panicle erect or ascending, capillary, somewhat flexuous. 
11. &. trichodes. 
Spikelets clustered on the very short erect or ascending branches. 12. E. secundifiora. 
Culms extensively creeping; flowers dioecious. 13. £. hypnotdes. 
