1918] The Grasses of Illinois 377 



Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) Benuv. 

 (Figs. 203 and 204) 



Leptochloa mucronata, Lapham '57, 546, 573; Patterson '76, 50; Flagg '78, 

 281. 



Culms smooth, 16 inches to 4 feet tall; sheaths papillose-pubescent; 

 blades smooth or slightly pubescent underneath, 4 to 10 inches long, 2 

 to 10 mm. broad ; spikes 2 to 4 inches long, the Avhole inflorescence 4 

 to 12 inches long; spikelets small, 1 to 2.5 mm. long; glumes subequal, 

 as long as the first floret, lemma awnless. 



This species occurs in drier places than does L. fascicularis. It is 

 usually found in fields. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality. Hall; wet places in Illinois, Eggert, 

 Sept., 1877; southern Illinois, Brendel. menard co. Athens, Eall in 1873. 

 PULASKI CO. Mound City, Vasey. wabash co. Without locality, Schneclc, July, 

 1880. 



46. PHRAGMITES Trin. 



These tall reed-like perennials rarely perfect seed, but spread by 

 rootstocks which run for many feet underground. The inflorescence is 

 of large panicles of 3- to 7-flowered spikelets, the rachilla joints densely 

 covered with long, white, silky hairs. The leaves are rather broad and 

 thick, narrowed to a sharp point. The ligules are short and thick, 

 edged with a fringe of short hairs sparsely interspersed with long ones. 



Phragmites communis Trin. 

 Reed (Figs. 206 and 207) 



Lapham '57, 547, 584 (Plate 3, Fig. 4); Babcock '73, 97; Patterson '76, 51; 

 Flagg '78, 282; Brendel '87. 64; Higley and Eaddin '91, 143; Huett '97, 130; 

 Cowles '00, 155; Sherff '12, 418; Gates '12, 355; Sherff, '12, 418. 



Plants smooth thruout ; culms stout, 4 to 12 feet tall ; sheaths over- 

 lapping, blades 6 to 12 inches long, 1 to 5 cm. wide ; panicle 6 to 12 

 inches long, yellowish brown; spikelets 12 to 15 mm. long; first floret 

 usually staminate, its lemma longer than that of the other florets. 



The plants are found in wet places, along the edges of ditches, 

 ponds, etc., and in swamps. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Vasey. champaign co. Eantoul, 

 Clinton, Sept., 1897. cook co. Chicago, Babcock, Sept., 1874; Evanston, Ship- 

 man in 1875 ; Colehour, Eill, Sept., 1876. FULTON CO. Without locality, Pepoon. 

 JO DAVIESS CO. Without locality, Pepoon. lake co. Beach, Gates, 3166; Fox 

 lake, Waite, Sept., 1887; Lake Villa, Gleason and Sho^be, Aug., 1906. Living- 

 ston CO. Emington, Wilcox, July, 1902. mchenry co. Algonquin, Nason. ogle 

 CO. Oregon, Waite, Sept., 1886. peoria co. Peoria, McDonald, Sept., 1890; 

 Peoria, Brendel. ST. clair co. Mascoutah, Welsch; French Village, Eggert, 

 Sept., 1892. 



47. TRIDENS Roeni. and Schult. 



In this genus the spikelets are 5- to 8-flowered, with nearly all the 

 florets perfect. The lemmas have a short awn at the apex with a sharp 



