FESTUCE.E. 



627 



above B. secalinus L., B. mollis L., B. racemosus L., B. multi- 

 fiorus L. 



Introduced from Europe. 



135. (264). Brachypoditjm Beauv. Agrost. 100 (1812). Dis- 

 ticlieia Ehrli. Bertr. 4: 148 (1789). Tracliynia Link, Ilort. Berol. 

 1:42 (1827). Ilemihronms Steud. Syn. PI. Gram. 1:317 (1855). 



Spikelots many-flowered, compressed or subterete, few in a 

 simple spike, subsessile or with short pedicels, rachilla glabrous, 

 articulate between the florets. Empty ghimes shorter than the 

 floral glume, shortly awned or awn- 

 less ; floral glume firm, narrow, round 

 on the back, 7-9-nerved, entire or 

 producing a short awn; palea but 

 little shorter than its glume, broad, 

 2-keeled, ciliate. Stamens 3, rarely 

 2. Ovary ciliate, styles very short. 

 Grain linear or narrowly oblong, 

 flattened on the back, grooved or 

 concave in front, adhering more or 

 less to glume and palea. 



Erect perennials or annuals, 

 blades flat or involute, terete. 

 Spikelets distant. 



There are six to eight species 

 found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Mex- 

 ico, and South America, three of A 

 which belong in North America. 



1. B. Pringlei Scribn. ined. 



. J 1 J j!j. J 1 J r, 1 Fig. 117. — Brachypodium Mexica- 

 A densely tufted slender branch- ^„„, Spikelets. .1, empty 



ing perennial, erect or diffuse, 20-70 



cm. high. Culms slender, sometimes 



capillary, nodes pilose. Sheaths often loose; ligule very short; 



blades of the culm variable, firm and closely involute, rigid, 3-4 cm. 



long, or thin, flat, scabrid, 10-15 cm. long, 3-4 mm. wide, tapering 



from the middle toward each end. Spikes bearing 4-6 erect 



spikelets, which are linear, 5-9-flowered, 16-23 cm. long. Empty 



glumes; a, b, views of floret. 

 (Scribner.) 



