FESTUCEvE. 619 



slightly compressed, linear, 7-9 mm. long, 3-nerved, usually obtuse 

 when s^jread, mucronate, appearing acute owing to the involutions 

 of the margins near the apex, rarely acute; floral glume almost 

 rounded on the back below, usually compressed above when in 

 flower, or later narrowly elliptical, aj^ex nearly flat, entire, obtuse, 

 when sjiread, 10-16 mm. long, 7-nerved, the alternate nerves longer, 

 pubescent near the margins, usually on the lower half only, awn 

 back of the apex, about 4 mm. long; palea linear, ])ectinate-ciliate, 

 8-10 mm. long. 



Massachusetts, Beal 14G; Michigan, Douglas Houghton, Beal 

 142, 144, 145, F. E. Wood, Wheeler 14:1, 143; Ohio, Frank in 1837; 

 Iowa, Arthur 734 of the U. S. Dept. Agricul. ; Minnesota, Arthur 

 B 5, Sandherg 1, 499; Kansas, Peter Felker; Colorado, Cassidy; 

 Wyoming, Bufum C 20; Montana, Scribner, Williams, Anderson 

 10; Arizona, Tourney 746; Washington, Lake; Oregon, Cusick 

 1289; California. Jones 2287. 



Var. Coloradensis Vasey, Bull. Torr. Club, 15:10 (1888). A 

 small form ; florets 3-7 ; floral glume densely pubescent. 



Var. minor Munro; Vasey, Grasses U. S. Dept. Agric, Spec. 

 Kept. 44 (1883), name only. About 40 cm. high; leaves nearly 

 smooth; iianicle 6-8 cm. long; spikelets 15-18 mm. long, florets 

 6-7 mm. long. 



Texas, Havard, Nealley; Arizona, Jones 4071. 



Var montanis Vasey, Bot. Wheel. Expd. 292 (1878). 



Culms 30-60 cm. high ; panicle erect; spikelets 5-6-flowered. 



Colorado, Fatterson 264, also found in Arizona. 



Var pauciflorus Vasey, Macoun, Cat. 4: 238 (1888). Plants 60 

 cm. high, slender, smooth, spikelets 5-10 in number and in a raceme. 



Oregon, Howell. 



Var. purgans (L.) A, Gray, Man. Ed. 1, 600 (1848). B. pur- 

 gans L. Sp. PL 76 (1753). Floral glume clothed over the back 

 with appressed hairs. 



17. B. GIGANTEUS L. Sp. PI. 77 (1753). 



An erect glabrous perennial, 90-120 cm. liigh. Sheaths 

 smooth, about as long as the internodes; ligule a mere ring; blades 

 flat, scabious above, 30 cm. long, 10-15 mm. wide. Panicle loose. 



