458 



POACE^. 



Spikelets 2-G-flowered, in nearly sessile clusters, crowded into 

 an ovoid or cylindrical spikelike panicle, rachilla articulate above 

 the lower glumes, flowers mostly perfect. Empty glumes persistent, 

 membranous, nearly equal and pointed; floral glume 3-5-tootbed 

 at tbe apex, tbe central tooth extending into a point or short awn; 

 palea 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Grain free from the palea. 



Perennial tufted grasses Avith flat or convolute leaf-blades. 

 Base of the lower spikelets usually subtended by a glumelike bract. 

 A small genus of about 8 species, chiefly found in Europe and 

 western Asia. Sesleria is nearly allied to Kceleria and Poa. 



1. S. c^RULEA (L.) Arduin. Sp. 2:18, ?'. 6(1807). Blue 

 Sesleria. Cynosarus cxernleus L. Sp. PI. 72 (1753). 



Rootstocks creeping; cttlms erect, 15-40 cm. high. Leaves of 

 sterile shoots densely tufted, blades rather stiff, abruptly pointed, 

 apex scabrid, those of the culm 2-3, the up- 

 per about 1 cm. long. Panicle bluish-gray, 

 shining, 1-3 cm. long. Spikelets mostly 

 in pairs, one sessile, the other on a short 

 pedicel; empty glumes thin, acute, faintly 

 nerved, about 5 mm. long; floral glume oval, 

 ciliate, 3-toothed, 5 mm. long. Sparingly 

 introduced in grass-seeds from Europe. 

 Found in Europe and western Asia. 

 105. (211). Arundo Journ. L. Gen. Ed. 1:19 (1737). Donax 

 Beauv. Agrost. 77 (1812), in part. Scolochloa Mert. & Koch, 

 Pioehl. Deutschl. Fl. 1:528 (1823). Aniphidonax Xees, Lindl. 

 Introd. Xat. Syst. Ed. 2, 449 (1836). Donacium Fries, Bot. 

 Notiser, 131 (1843). 



Spikelets 2-6-flowered, borne on an ample panicle, rachilla silky- 

 bearded, articulate above the lower glumes and between tlie florets, 

 which are perfect or the upper staminate. Empty glumes narrow, 

 glabrous, slightly unequal, lanceolate, keeled, 3-nerved; floral 

 glume membranous, slender, often more or less divided Avith a mu- 

 cro between the lobes; palea hyaline, shorter than its glume, pubes- 

 cent on the keels. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Grain oblong,, 

 included, but not adherent. 



Fig 90. — Sesleria c(e- 

 rulea. Spikelet. (Rich- 

 ardson.) 



