FESTUCE.E. 475 



glume. Stamens 3. Grain oblong, furrowed, subquadrangular, 

 enclosed, but not adherent. 



There is only one species, and that belongs to Europe, northern 

 Africa, and western Asia. 



1. M. ccEEULEA (L.) Mcench, Meth. 183 (1794). Aira coerulea 

 L. Sp. PI. 63 (1753). 



A slender tufted perennial, 30-90 cm. high. Culm with one to 

 two leaves only, and those near the base. Sheaths smooth, bearded 

 at the throat; ligule none; blades smooth, involute, rigid, tips very 

 slender, 10-15 cm. long. Panicle 3-30 cm. long, rachis com- 

 pressed, flexuose. Empty glumes 2-3 mm. long; floral glumes 4-5 

 mm. long. Anthers violet-brown. Sparingly introduced or likely 

 to be introduced with grass-seeds. 



111. (230). Eragrostis Host, Ic. Gram. 4:14 (1809); Beauv. 

 Agrost. 70. t. 14. /. 11 (1812). Meyastachya Beauv. Agrost. 74 

 {1812). Erocliloe Eafin. Neogenyt. 4 (1825). Exayrostis Steud. 

 Xom. Ed. 2, 1:622 (1840). Harpachne Hochst. Cf. Flora, 24 

 (1841). Intell. 20, nomen; et ex Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2:431 

 (1850). CceJachyrum Nees, Linnaa 16:221 (1842). MacroUe- 

 phartis Philippi, Linn. 29:100 (1857-58). Cladoraphis Franch. 

 ex Dur. 1. c. (1888). 



Spikelets usually many-flowered, in a loose and spreading or nar- 

 row and clustered panicle, rachilla usually glabrous and articulate 

 under the floral glumes, rarely inarticulate, flowers perfect or vari- 

 ously unisexual. Empty glumes unequal, rather shorter than the 

 floral glumes, keeled, first 1-nerved, second 1-3-nerved (ours all 1- 

 nerved), floral glumes obtuse or acute, unawned, 3-nerved, the keel 

 prominent, the lateral nerves sometimes obscure; palea shorter than 

 its glume with a prominent nerve or keel, often persisting after tlie 

 glume and grain have fallen away. Stamens 2-3. Styles distinct, 

 short; grain globose, ovoid or oblong, usually not furrowed, en- 

 closed, but not adherent, often deciduous with the floral glume. 



There are about 100 species widely spread in warm and temper- 

 ate regions, not found in very cold countries or on high mountains. 

 Two or three are cosmopolitan and several difficult to limit. Nearly 

 allied to Poa, to which genus the species have sometimes been re- 



