1918] The Grasses of Illinois 399 



Culms slender, often tufted, 2 to 16 inches tall ; sheaths smooth, 

 shorter than the intcrnodes; blades very short, 1.5 to 4 inches long, 

 involute ; panicle narrow, contracted, spike-like, 1 to 5 inches long ; 

 spikelets 6- to 13-flowered, 5 to 12 mm. long; lemmas rough 3 to 5 mm. 

 long, the awn about the same length. 



This annual species is found in dry, open country, usually where 

 the soil is very poor. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Vasey; sontLorn Illinois, Lapham 11 

 1857. CHAMPAIGN CO. Champaign, Seymour and JVciite, June, 1884; Champaign, 

 Seymour, June, 1884. cook co. Evaustou, Johnston in 1891. hancock co. 

 Warsaw, Mead, July, 1842. jackson CO. Makanda, Gleason, June, 1903. jo 

 DAVIESS CO. Without locality, Pepoon 145; Hanover, Gleason and Gates 2571 

 KANKAKEE CO. Kankakee, Hill 33 in 1872. lake co. Waukegan, Gates 2468. LA 

 SALLE CO. starved Eock, Gates 3191. macon CO. Decatur, Cloley, June, 1899. Ma- 

 coupin CO. Carlinville, Eobcrtson, May, 1883. marion co. Without locality, M. S. 

 Behb in 1860. Marshall co. Near Lawn Eidge, V. H. Chase 1494. peoria co. Peo- 

 ria, Brendel; Peoria, McDonald, June, 1889. piatt co. White Heath, Mosher, 

 May, 1914. pope co. Herod, Clinton, July, 1898. ST. clair co. Without local- 

 ity, Eggert, Aug., 1874; Mascoutah, Welsch. vermilion CO. Muncie, Mosher, 

 May, 1914. wabash co. Without locality, Schneck, June, 1900; Old Palmyra, 

 Schneck, May, 1883; Keensburgh, Schneck, June, 1898. 



Festuca ovina L. 



Sheep's Fescue (Fig. 248) 



Culms erect in close bunches, 6 inches to 2 feet tall ; sheaths usually 

 smooth ; blades pale green, involute, 2 to 5 inches long, the lower ones 

 longest; panicle slender and spike-like, 2 to 4 inches long; spikelets 

 5 to 7.5 mm. long; lemmas smooth, 3 to 3.5 mm. long. 



There is a native form of this species and also one introduced from 

 Europe in seed mixtures for pastures and parks. A variety, F. ovina 

 duriuscula, also introduced from Europe, is taller and has lemmas 

 about 6 mm. long. 



ILLINOIS specimens: Without locality, Vasey. champaign co. Crystal Lake 

 Park, Urbana, Trelease, May, 1914; Urbana, Lants, 1914; Urbana,, Waggoner, 

 May, 1914. 



Festuca shortii Kunth 

 (Figs. 250 and 251) 



Culms in small bunches or single, 1 to 4 feet tall ; sheaths usually 

 smooth, shorter than the intcrnodes ; blades 4 to 12 inches long, 2 to 

 4 mm. wide, often involute in drying; panicle open, the naked 

 branches bearing few- to several-clustered, short-pediceled spikelets 

 near the ends; spikelets usually 5- to 9-flowered, typically more than 

 3-flowered, 5 to 7 mm. long; when mature the length and breadth 

 nearly equal; lemmas 4.5 mm. long; second glume 4 to 5 mm. long. 



This species is much more distinct than perhaps the description 

 would lead one to believe. It was formerly included with Festuca 

 ohiusa, but is easily distinguished by the panicle. That of Festuca 



