1 86 POACE^. 



blades. Panicle pyramidul. spreading or contracted, the spikelets 

 often shining and scabrid. 



There are eight or ten sj)ecies found in tlie .Southern as well as 

 in the Xorthern Hemisphere. 



In K^orthern EuroiDe it was formerly strewn before the doors of 

 churches on Christmas and other holy-days, hence one of its com- 

 mon names. 



a, Spikelets 4 mm. long, no projecting awn 1 



a. Spikelets 7 mm. long, awn projecting 2-3 mm. ... 2, 3 



a. Spikelets 5 mm. long, no jDrojecting awn 4 



a. Spikelets 5 mm. long, awn projecting slightly 5 



1. S. odorata (L.) Scribn. Mem. Bull. Torr. Club, 5:34 

 (1894). XoKTHERX Holy Gkass. Seneca or Vanilla Grass. 

 Holcus odoratus L. Sp. Fl. 1048 (1753). H. repens Host, Gram. 

 3:3. t. 3 (1801). Ilierochhe hoveaUs li. & S. Syst. 2:513 

 (1817). 



A smooth tufted grass, 20-70 cm. high. Ligule 4-5 mm. long; 

 blades flat, short. Panicle pyramidal, 5-12 cm. long, slightly 1- 

 sided, rays smooth, in pairs. Spikelets broadly ovate, fulvous or 

 brown, shining, empty glumes acuminate, about 4 mm. long, second 

 one the longer, membranous, translucent; floral glumes of the 

 lateral florets mucronate or short-awned at or near the apex, 

 ciliate on the margins; floral glume of the terminal floret 

 smaller, nearly glabrous, hairy above; jialea narrower and 1-2-3- 

 nerved. 



Canada (Anticosti Island), Verrell ; Vermont, Pringle ; Massa- 

 chusetts, Faxon, SMirtevant; Ontario, Foicler ; New York, BeaX 

 37; Michigan, Cooley, Bailey for M. A. C. 35, Wheeler for 'M. A. 

 C. 36; Minnesota, Bailey B 451, Ilolzinger ; Colorado, Cassidy ; 

 Wyoming, Btiffum ; Montana, Anderson; Alaska, Fmiston for 

 Nat. Mus. 36; Oregon, Hoivell. 



" Refused even by hungry mules," says Sereno Watson. 

 Dr. I. A. Lapham is authority for the statement that this is the 

 sacred grass of many of the Indian tribes, as of our own European 

 ancestors. 



Northern and subalpine. 



