I). (CALAMAGROSTIS,) CANADENSIS, BEAUV. 179 



bristle-like or smooth rudiment of a flower ; flower perfect. The 

 empty glumes persistent below the joint, slightly unequal, awn- 

 less, keeled, membranous; the floral glume often with a ring 

 of hairs at the base, o-nerved, entire or 2-4-toothed, bearing a 

 short awn on the back. Palea slender, 2-nerved, thin. Stamens 

 3. Styles distinct, short, stigmas feathery. Caryopsis obovoid 

 or oblong, often oblique, included by the slender flowering glume 

 and the palea, free, or slightly adherent. 



Grasses with various habits. Panicle terminal. Nearly re- 

 lated to Agrostis. 



About 130 species in temperate ami cold regions. 



D. (Calaniagrostis,) Canadensis, Beauv. Blue Joint. ^ 

 A perennial witli creeping rootstocks, found in low grounds, 

 3-6-ft. high. Leaves flat, glaucous. Panicle open, 2-6 in. 

 Spikelets purplish with the rachilla continued behind the 

 palea as a short, hairy pedicel. Empty glumes, ovate, lanceolate, 

 acute, the upper with an obscure nerve each side the middle one. 

 Hairs numerous, as long as the floral glume, which bears a 

 very slender, straight awn near the middle. Palea hyaline, two- 

 thirds as long as its glume. 



This native perennial grass is widely distributed in the marshes 

 of the Northern States clear across the continent, where.it at- 

 tains a height of four to six feet or more. The narrow panicle 

 somewhat resembles that of red top, only it is more slender. 



Unfortunately, the common name is a very indefinite one, as 

 many other and wideh' different grasses in various parts of our 

 country have been called "blue joint." It is not much culti- 

 vated, but is quite common, and if cut rather early, while in 

 flower, or sooner, it affords a very large yield of good hay. Blue 

 joint will grow on land rather too wet for -red top, and for such 

 places, if they cannot be drained, we know of no grass more 

 suitable for cultivation. 



Fig. 80. Deyeuxin Canadensis (Blue Toint); a, upper part of a plant; /), empty 

 glumes ; c, d, back of same ; c, floral glume, palea to tbe left, and at base a rudiment. 

 of a floret ; /, ov'ary and styles.— (Sudworth). 



