GRASSES OF IOWA. 151 



Spikelets 1-flowered, jointed on the pedicel. Lower glumes boat- 

 shaped, strongly compressed and keeled, nearly equal, united at the base, 

 equalling or exceeding the flowering glume, which is awned on the back 

 below the middle; palet mostly wanting. Stamens 3; styles mostly 

 united. Stigmas long and feathered. Clusters contracted into a cylin- 

 drical and soft, dense spike; perennial. (Name from Greek words for 

 fox ami tail, from the shape of the spike.) 



Bentham & Hooker recognizes 20 species, although 40 have been 

 described; Hackel recognizes 20 species. Found chiefly in Europe, and 

 extreme tropical Asia and North America; a few in South America and 

 Australia, but doubtfully indigenous. Heller lists 1 1 species; Beal 11 

 species. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ALOPECURUS. 



Empty glumes 2 to 2.5 mm. long A. geniculates .' 



Empty glumes 4 to 6 mm. long A. pratensis.' 



1. ALOPECURUS GENICULATUS. 



Alopecurus geniculatus L. Sp. PI. 60. 1753, Watson and Coulter. Gray 

 Man. Bot. 645. pi. 7 . 1890. (6th ed.) Scribner. Grasses of Tenn. Bull. Univ. 

 Tenn. Agrl. Exp. Sta. 7: 71. /. 89. 1894. Scribner. American Grasses. Bull. 

 U. S. Dept. Agrl. Div. Agros. 7: 121. /. 115. 1900. (3ded.) Vasey. Contr. 

 U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 87. Beal. Grassesof N. A. 2: 280. 1896. Nash in 

 Britton and Brown. 111. Fl. 1: 149. /. 337. 1896. 



Alopecurus geniculatus var . fulvus. Smith. Scrib. Mem. Torr. Bot. 

 Club. 5: 38. 1894. 



Alopecurus geuicu/atus var. arislulalus Torr. Fl. U. S. 1: 97. 1824. 

 Vasey. Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 87. 



Alopecurus aristulatus Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1. 43. 1803. 



