THE GRASS FAMILY. 423 



ledged in the present volume, and even this is probably too high. 

 Before proceeding to the analysis of them, the student must observe 

 that the entirely new and distinct structure of these plants requires 

 the use of a few new terms to correspond. 



The floral coverings which occupy the place of the calyx and corolla 

 in other plants, are in the grasses called chaflF-scales, or " glumes," 

 "glumelles," and " palea?." 



Each little cluster of blossoms is termed a " spikelet." A spikelet 

 however, may contain but a single blossom. 



The slender, bristle-like extremities often found upon a por^n of 

 the chaff-scales are called the "awns." In some cases these "awns" 

 are an inch or more in length, and are of great service as guides, 

 but they cannot always be absolutely relied upon, certain species 

 being found both with awns and without them. 



It is further important to observe that the appearance of grasses 

 varies greatly with the stage of their bloom. A beginner could in 

 some cases hardly suppose it possible that the young and the mature 

 states could look so different, as in the meadow soft-grass for example. 

 They are strongly affected also by the place of growth, and by moisture 

 and dryness of soil. In the following analysis, the same grass is often 

 inserted in several sections, so as to provide against the difficulties 

 mentioned, as far as practicable. 



PRELIMINAKY ANALYSIS. 



A. — Spikelets collected into erect, solid, solitary, oval, or cylindrical heads, p. 424. 

 B. — Spikelets disposed in open, unbranched racemes. 



* Spikelets with long awns, p. 424. 



** Awns absent or very minute, p. 435. 

 C. — Spikelets disposed in panicles, which are more or less compound, branching, 

 and open. 



* Panicles of not more than three or four branches ; spikelets not exceeding 



a dozen in all, p. 425. 

 •* Panicle of many divisions or branches, more or less open; the spikelets 

 usually very numerous, 

 t Spikelets with conspicuous tufts of hair in the interior, p. 420. 

 +t Spikelets without such tufts of hair, p. 42G. 



II Spikelets large, awned, drooping from the ends of hair-hke branchlets 

 that are several inches long, p. 42C. 

 II II Branches of the panicle erect and spreading, never pendulous. 



Div, 1st. — Scales of a beautiful shining silvery gray, silvery green, or 



silvery yellow, p. 420. 

 DiT. 2nd. — Scales without remarkable gloss. 



Sect. 1st. — Branches of the panicle erect, or nearly so, p. 497. 

 Sect. 2nd. — Branches spreading, horizontal, or pointing downwards, 

 p. 428. 



