150 STIPA. 



or 3, conspicuous ; Stigmas plumose. Perennials, 

 witli rigid leaves, and a narrow raceme or panicle. 

 Spikelets greenisli, ratlier large. (Name composed 

 of two Greek words orysa^ rice, and opsis, likeness, 

 from a fancied resemblance to that grain.) 



1. 0. 3Ielanoca7ya, (Black Mountain Rice), is a 

 common grass in dry, rock}^ woods, witli a leafv 

 stem from two to three feet high ; husks of the seed 

 blackish when ripe ; flowers in August. 



2. O. Asperifolia (White Mountain Eice). Steep 

 rocky hill sides, and in dry woods ; grows from a 

 foot to eighteen inches high ; seeds farinaceous, and 

 make a fine and white flower but difiicult in procur- 

 ing, as the grain drops so easily. Flowers in May. 



3. 0. Canadensis (Smallest, or Canadian Rice) 

 Rocky hills and dry plains ; rare ; flowers in May. 



15. STIPA, Linn. Feathee Geass. 



GEXEEIC CHAEACTEE. 



Spikelets 1 -flowered ; terete ; the flower falling 

 away at maturity (with the conspicuous obconical, 

 bearded, and often sharp-pointed callus) from the 

 membranaceous glums. Lower palet coriaceous, 

 involute, and closely embracing the smaller upper 

 one, and the c^^lindrical grain, having a long and 

 twisted or tortuous simple awn jointed with its apex. 

 Stamens mostly 3 ; stigmas plumose ; perennials, 

 with narrow, involute leaves, and a loose panicle. 

 (Name, a Greek word sfype, tow, in allusion to the 



