398 POACE^. 



about 10 mm. long, besides the short awn, second incurved, lanceo- 

 late, 4-6 mm. long; floral glume incurved, 1-nerved, hispid on 

 the keel, obtuse, retuse or bifid, 6-8 mm. long; palea ovate-lanceo- 

 late, obtuse, 2-nerved. 



" Certainly distinct from the next {>S. ijolystachya), to which in 

 strictness the Linnaean name belongs." A. Gray, Man. Ed. 1 : 586 

 (1848). "The characters based upon the spikelets alone are not 

 sufficient to separate them." Scribn. Bull. Torr. Club, 10:85 

 (1883). See illustrated article in which Scribn gives reasons for 

 his conclusions. Prof. S. considers 8. polystachya only a variety of 

 this species, and in my opinion his reasons are good. 



Vermont, Pringle; Ehode Island, Tiveedy for U. S. Dept, Agri- 

 cul., 24; Canada, Fowler; Michigan, Clarh 1294, 1376; Illinois, 

 Beal 87 ; Montana, Anderson; Colorado, Cassidy; Oregon, Hoioell. 



Found along banks of rivers and lakes, from New England to 

 the Kocky Mountains. The hard leaves have been manufactured 

 into paper. 



Var. polystachya (Michx.) Scribn. Bull. Torr. Club, 10:86 

 (1883). Tracliynotia iwlijdacliija Michx. El. Bor. Am. 1 : 64 

 (1803). Salt Reed-grass. 



Culms stout, 120-250 cm. high. Blades 60 cm. or more long, 

 15-25 mm. wide. Spikes 20-50 in number, 5-10 cm. long. 

 Otherwise like 8. cynosuroides Willd., of which it is likely only a 

 variety. See notes on the species. 



Salt or brackish marshes, near the eastern coast. 



Delaware, Canhy for Clark 1912; North Carolina, McCarthy; 

 Florida, 6'«r^m 3433; Mississippi, Tracy. 



3. S. patens (Ait.) Muhl. Gram. 55 (1817). Dactylis patens 

 Ait. Hort. Kew. 1:104 (1789). 8. juncea Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 

 1:94 (1817). Tracliynotia juncea Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1:64 

 (1803). Rush Salt-grass. 



Culms slender, 30-60 cm. high. Leaf-blades smooth, narrow, 

 rushlike, 6-16 cm. long. Spikes usually 4-5 in number, 3-5 cm. 

 long, slightly imbricated, erect or spreading, on peduncles 3 mm. 

 long or nearly sessile, rachis smooth, or hispidulous towards the apex. 

 Spikelets oblong-linear, 6-8 mm. long, empty glumes hispid-serru- 



