97. GRAMINEJS. [10. Poliinia. 



10. Pollillia, Trin. 



Annual or perennial not very large grasses closely allied 

 to Ischsemum, with the basal sheaths of the stems often 

 woolly or villous, leaves narrow or filiform ; and the inflores- 

 cence densely hairy or silky. Pairs of spikelets in spikes 

 which are usually clustered sub-digitate and erect. Gl. 4, 1 

 dorsal ly flattened or concave, with a narrowly inflexed 

 margin throughout, rarely both I and II sub-couvex (vide 

 pedicellata); II keeled acute ; III hyaline ciliate paleate 

 usually flowering ; IV very short, hyaline or reduced to a 

 dilated base of the long twisted exserted awn. Pale as short 

 as the ovary. Stigmas long. 



Section Dichanthium of Andropogon resembles Poliinia in 

 habit, and may be distingn • *hed by the sessile and pedicelled 

 spikelets being dissimilar, 



A. Glume II with a slender short awn. Gl. Ill 



obsolete. 



One spikelet sessile. Gl. I truncate; IV 2- 



toothed ' . , . 1. articulata. 



Both spikelets pedicelled. Gl. I 2-toothed; IV 



entire. . ..... 2. pedicellata. 



One spikelet sessile. Gl. I forked . . . . 8. ciliata. 



B. Glume II not awned. 



Glumes I and II equal. Spikes 2-12 usually over 



3'' long . 4. argentea. 



Gl. I shorter than II. Spikes 2-4 distant under 



3'' long 5. Cwningii, 



1. P. articulata, Trim. 



An erect tufted grass 1-2 ft. high, very slender with 

 filiform leaves. Spikes 1-2^" usually numerous. Spikelets 

 tViV' brown. Gl, 1 narrowly truncate, keels villous below 

 with white hairs; II glabrous except the margins; IV 

 narrowly oblong 2-fid or 2- toothed, awn very long ciliate. 

 palea (sometimes described as Gl. Ill; short broad. 

 Common. Fla. Oct.-Nov. 



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