GRASS FAMILY. 189 
4. Eragrostis Purshii Schrad. Pursh’s Eragrostis. (Fig. 431.) 
Poa Caroliniana Spreng. Mant. Fl. Hal. 33. 1807? 
Eragrostis Purshii Schrad. Linnaea, 12: 451. 1838. 
Eragrostis Caroliniana Scribn. Mem. Torr. Club, 5: 49. 
1895. 
Culms 6/—-18/ tall, tufted, usually decumbent at the 
base and much branched, smooth and _ glabrous. 
Sheaths loose, shorter than the internodes, smooth 
and glabrous; ligule a ring of short hairs; leaves 14/— 
3%’ long, 1’ wide or less, smooth beneath, rough 
above; panicle open, 3-8’ long, the branches spread- 
ing, 1/-2%4’ long, naked in the axils; spikelets 5—15- 
flowered, dull purple or green, 114’/-4/’ long, about 
44/’ wide; empty scales acute, the lower about two- 
thirds as long as the upper, scabrous on the keel; 
flowering scales acute, firm, the lower ones 3’ long, 
the lateral nerves prominent. 
In dry places, apparently throughout the United States, 
extending into Ontario. Aug.—Sept. 
5. Eragrostis Eragrostis (L.) Karst. Low Eragrostis. (Fig. 432.) 
Poa Eragrostis \,. Sp. Pl. 68. 1753. 
Eragrostis poaeoides Beauv. Agrost. 162. 1812. 
Eragrostis minor Host, Fl. Austr. 1:135. 1827. 
Eragrostis Eragrostis Karst. Deutsch. Fl. 389. 1880-83. 
Culms seldom over 15/ tall, tufted, usually decum- 
bent and much branched, smooth and glabrous. 
Sheaths loose, shorter than the internodes, smooth, 
sometimes a little pubescent, sparingly pilose at the 
throat; ligule a ring of short hairs; leaves 1/-214/ 
long, %//-2/’ wide, smooth nee rough above 
and somewhat pilose near the base; panicle 2/—414/ in 
length, the branches spreading or ascending, 34/—1147 
long; spikelets S-18-flowered, 3//-5’’ long, about 1/7 
wide; empty scales acute, the first two-thirds as long 
as the second; flowering scales obtuse, 3’ long, the 
lateral nerves prominent. 
In waste places or cultivated ground, Ontario to New 
England, New York and Pennsylvania. Locally natural- 
ized from Europe. July—Sept. 
6. Eragrostis major Host. Strong-scented Eragrostis. (Fig. 433.) 
Eragrostis major Host, Gram. Austr. 4: 14. pl. 2 
1809. 
Be eae poaeoides var. megastachya A. Gray, Man. 
Ed. 5, 631. 1867. 
Culms 6/-2° tall, erect, or decumbent at the base, 
usually branched, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths 
shorter than the internodes, smooth, sparingly 
pilose at the throat; ligule a ring of short hairs ; 
leaves 2/-7’ long, 1//-3/’ wide, flat, smooth be- 
neath, scabrous above; panicle 2/-6/ in length, the 
branches spreading or ascending, 1’—2’ long; spike- 
lets 8-35-flowered, 214//-8’’ long, about 114’’ wide, 
very flat; empty scales acute, the first slightly 
shorter than the second; flowering scales obtuse, 
1/’-14”’ long, the lateral nerves prominent. 
In waste and cultivated places nearly throughout 
the United States, and in Ontario. Naturalized from 
Europe. Unpleasantly scented, handsome. Aug.—Sept. 
