MUHLENBERGIA, SCHREB. 181 



The seeds are quite small and some time is required for the 

 grass to become well established. 



Concerning this grass, Gould says: "It constitutes about 

 one-third of the natural grasses on the beaver dam meadows of 

 the Adirondacks. It is certain that cattle relish it very much 

 both in its green state and when made into hay, and it is equally 

 certain that farmers wlio have it on their farms believe it to be 

 one of the best grasses in their meadows." 



MUHLENBERGIA, SCHREB. 



Spikelets 1-tiowered, small, panicled, flowers perfect. Glumes 

 3, the two lower empty, persistent below the joint, membranous 

 or hyaline, equal or oftener unequal, sometimes minute, or one 

 of them wliolly wanting, keeled, acute, mucronate, or rarely 

 short or long awned. The floret with a minute callus or sessile, 

 usually bearded at base. The floral glume 3-5-nerved, firm 

 or membranous, obtuse, acute, mucronate, or very often bearing 

 a slender awn. Palea hyaline, included, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, 

 very small. Stamens usually 3. Styles distinct, stigmas j)lu- 

 mose. Caryopsis narrow, subterete, inclosed by the floral glume, 

 free. 



Grasses of various habits. Panicles terminal and axillary, 

 narrow and slender, loose and branching, dense or spike-like, 

 spikelets small, slender. 



About 60 species, mostly North American, a few found in the 

 Andes and Asia. 



M. gloiiierata, Trin, Muhlenberg's iwrass, Satin Grass, 

 "Wild Timothy. — Culms erect, glaucous, 1-3 ft. high, branched, 

 or rarely simple. Panicle spike-like, dense, excerted, 2-3 in. 

 often lead colored, glumes awned, nearly equal. Common north- 

 ward in bogs, or at the west on dryer land. 



Fig. 81. Muhlenheroia (fnmerato; <r, plant; 7>, spikelet; c, floret; (U. S. Agricult- 

 ural Department and Scribner). 



