184 ELYMUS. 



1. Hordeum Jiibatuin (Squirrel Tail grass). Com- 

 mon on moist sands and marshy places near sea 

 shore and northern lakes in Wisconsin, Iowa, and 

 Minnesota. 



Flowers in June. 



2. H. Pratense. Plains, especiallj' in saline soil, 

 Ohio to Illinois, and westward. 



Flowers in May and June. 



3. H. Pussilum (Barley grass). Annual. Relished 

 by cattle. 



46. ELYMUS — Linn. Lyme GpwASS. Wild Geass. 



GEIs^EEIC CHAEACTER. 



Spikelets 2 to 4 at each joint of the rhachis, all 

 fertile and alike, sessile, each 1 to 7-flowered; glumes 

 conspicuous, nearly side by side in front of the spike- 

 lets, 2 for each spikelet, forming an involucre to the 

 cluster. Palets coriaceous, tlie lower rounded on 

 the back, acute or awned at the apex ; grain adherent 

 to the involving palets. 



Whence its name, an ancient one for some grain, 

 from elyo, to roll up. 



1. E. Yirginicus {Jjyme grass. Wild Rye). River 

 banks, from l!Cew England to Illinois, and Wiscon- 

 sin. 



2. E. Canadensis (Canadian Lyme grass). Common 

 on river banks ; also Yar. Glaucifolias, same. 



