656 POACE^. 



Kew York, Olintou for Br. Clark 1436; Delaware, Martindale; 

 District of Columbia, McCarthy; Michigan (Flint), Dr. Clark^ 

 (Eollin) Bed. 



Eiver-banks, New England to Minnesota and southward. 



145. (276). ASPERELLA Humb. Eoeni. & Ust Mag. part 7, 3: 

 6 (1790). Hystrix Moench, Meth. 294 (1794). Gymnostichum 

 Schreb. Beschr. Graes. 2 : 127, t. 47 (1810). Asprella Willd. Enum. 

 Hort. Berol. 132 (1809). 



Spikelets 1-4-flowered, 2 or rarely 3 in number, sessile at the 

 nodes of the excavated raehis of the simple spike, rachilla articulate 

 below the florets, which are perfect or the upper imperfect. Empty 

 glumes 0, or represented by 1-2 small s^Dines below the spikelets ; 

 floral glume narrowly lanceolate, involute, firm, round on the back, 

 5-nerved above, extending into an awn; palea shorter than the 

 glume, 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Styles very short, distinct, stigmas 

 plumose. Grain narrow, oblong, villous at the apex, grooved on 

 the inside, adhering to the palea. Perennial grasses; spikes ter- 

 minal, looser and more slender tluin in Elynms. 



Species 4, of which 2 belong to North America, 1 to Siberia, 

 and a fourth to New Zealand. 



1. A. Hystrix (L.) Mojnch, Meth. 294 (1794). Bottle-brush 

 Grass. Asprella Hystrix Willd. Enum. 132 (1809). Elymus 

 Hystrix L. Sp. PI. 560 (1753). Gyvuiostichum Hystrix Schreb. 

 Beschr. Griies. 2:127 (1810). Gymnostichum maji(slIeynh.'Nom. 

 1:371. Hystrix jxitula Mcench, Meth. 295 (1794); Hystrix 

 Hystrix Millsp. Fl. W. Ya. 474 (1892). 



A rather smooth or sparingly scabrous tufted grass, 60-120 cm. 

 liigh. Leaves 5-6 in number; sheaths shorter than the inturnodes ; 

 ligule a mere ring; blades flat, inverted, 15-20 cm. long, 8-15 

 7nm. wide. Spike loose, raehis slender, 6-15 cm. long. Spikelets 

 1-3 at a joint, spreading, early deciduous; empty glumes sometimes 

 represented by slender rudiments; floral glume smootli or rough, 9 

 mm. long, tipped with an awn 2-4 times its length; palea as long 

 as its glume, obtuse. Glaucous jilants Avere found by 0. F, 

 Wheeler in Ionia County, Michigan. 



Vermont, Pritiyle ; Pennsylvania, Scribuer lor JJ. S. Dept, 



