AGROSTIDE^. 299 



very little longer; flonil glume broadly oval, obtuse, sometimes 

 with a mucro, obscurely 3-uerved, 1-1.5 mm. long; palea obovate- 

 oval, as long as its glume. 



Texas, U. S. Dept. Agricul. from EevercJion ; Colorado, Srrib- 

 ner 3380a Wolfe; California, Parish 1030; Southern California, 

 Palmer 230. 



Two plants from different places in Colorado have 2-3 florets to 

 tlie spikelet, and most of them distended witli smut. 



British America to Arizona, California and Texas. 



A wiry-stemmed species restricted to very wet jilaces, contribut- 

 ing a little to the forage. 



28. S. airoides Torr. Pac. E. E. Eep. 7: Part 3, 21 (1856). 

 Agrostis airoides Torr. Ann. Lye. K Y. /; 151 (1824). Vilfa 

 airoides Trin. Steud. Syn. PI. Gram. 162 (1855). 



An erect rather stout tufted perennial, 40-90 cm. high ; culms 

 enclosed below with prominent wide sheaths. Sheaths a little 

 shorter than the internodes, the throat ciliate; ligule very short; 

 blades light green, soon fading, convolute, tapering to a filiform 

 apex, those of sterile shoots 2-5 cm. long, 3 mm. in width; those 

 of the culm 4-5 in number, the upper filiform, 2-3 cm. long. 

 Panicle terminal, ovoid, often partly included at the base, 20-30 

 cm. long, rays solitary in twos or threes, again branching and bear- 

 ing scattered spikelets above the middle. Spikelets light lead- 

 color or brown; empty glumes obovate, without nerves, first 0.5-1 

 mm. long, second 1.5-2 mm. long, floret with a callus; floral glume 

 concave, broadly oval, 1-nerved, 2 mm. long; palea broader than 

 its glume and a little shorter, truncate, infolded between the nerves 

 on the back. 



Eocky Mountains, U. S. Dept. Agricul. 345; Montana, Scrihner. 



Kansas and Nebraska, Montana, California, Texas, and New 

 Mexico. 



29. S. minutiflorus (Trin.) Link, Hort. Berol. 1:88 (1827). 

 Vilfa mmutiflorus Trin. Unifl. 158 (1826). 



Culms slender, smooth, 20-40 cm. high. Sheaths 2. ligule very 

 shortly ciliate; blades flat, 3-10 cm. long, 3 mm. or less broad. 

 Panicle terminal, exserted, pyramidal, 8-16 cm. long; rays solitary 



