386 Bulletin No. 205 [March, 



This species is much more abundant than M. mutica in Illinois. 

 It is probable that the two species have been confused. M. viutica is a 

 smaller and more delicate plant, but the species are most readily dis- 

 tinguished by the spikelet characters. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Vasey. christian co. Taylorville, 

 Andrews. cook co. Lemont, Hill, June, 1899. johnson co. Tunnel Hill, 

 Schneck, May, 1902. kankakee co. Kankakee, Uill 27 in 1872. macon CO. De- 

 catur, Clolcey, May, 1899. ogle co. Oregon, Waite, June, 1885. peoria co. 

 Peoria, McDonald, June, 1885, and 1894; Peoria, Brendel. ST. CLAIR CO. Mas- 

 eoutah, Wclsch. sangamon co. Springfield, M. S. Bebb. stark co. Near Wady 

 Petra, V. II. Chase 1092. vermilion co. Muncie, Mosher, June, 1914. wabash 

 CO. Without locality, Schneck, June, 1895 and 1901; without locality. Shearer, 

 June, 1893. will co. Joliet, Hill 11 in 1907. 



51. DIARINA Raf. 



This genus is easily distinguished by its large spikelets with large, 

 hardened, shiny lemmas. The plants are perennial with long, creeping 

 rootstocks and simple culms. The leaves are stiff, .rather broad, and 

 nearly as long as the culm. The ligule is membranous and very short. 

 The spikelets are 3- to 5-flowered, but the upper florets bear no seed. 



Diarina festucoides Raf. 



(Figs. 225 and 226) 



Diarrhena americana, Engelmann '44, 103. Diarrhena diandra, Lapham '57, 

 546, 574 (Plate 2, Fig. 8). Diarrhena americana, Babcoek '73, 97; Patterson 

 ■76, 50; Flagg '78, 281; Brendel '81, 63; Higley and Eaddin '91, 144; Huett 

 97, 130. 



Culms erect, 3 to 4 feet, tall ; sheaths smooth ; blades usually rough- 

 ened, 8 to 30 inches long, 10 to 18 mm. wide; panicles narrow, few- 

 flowered, 4 to 10 inches long; spikelets 10 to 16 mm. long, lemmas 

 usually brown. 



This species is found in rich, damp woods, 



n.LiNOis- specimens: Without locality, Vnsey. champaign co. Urbana, 

 Clinton, Oct., 1895. christian co. Taylorville, Andrews, pulton co. With- 

 out locality, Pepoon; Canton, Wolf, menard co. Without locality. Hall, Aug., 

 1868. JO DAVIESS CO. Without locality, Pepoon. peoria co. Peoria, Brendel. 

 ST CLAIR CO. Mascoutah, Welsch. stark co. Along Spoon river, V. H. Chase 

 1539. TAZEWELL CO. Without locality, McDonald, July, IS89. vermilion co. 

 Muncie, Mosher, May, 1814. wabash co. Banks of the Wabash river, Schneck, 

 July, 1904; Mt. Carmel, Schneck, Sept., 1880; Mt. Carmel, Patterson, Sept., 1877. 



52. UNIOLA L. 



Spike Grass 



This typically southern genus is represented by a single species in 

 Illinois. The plants are very striking, with broad leaves and an open, 

 drooping panicle of large flattened spikelets. The spikelets are 6- to 

 12-flowered, 1 to 4 of the lower lemmas being empty. This species 

 is found in shaded woods and thickets. It is most distinctive and per- 

 haps the most beautiful grass found in Illinois. 



