GRASSES OF IOWA. 



185 



Fig. 130. Holcus lanalus—a, spikelet; b, flower- 

 ing glumes; c, ligule. (Div. Agros. U. S. Dept. 

 Agrl. 1 



DISTRIBUTION. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Velvet Grass. A peren- 

 nial grass, i to 2 feet (2-4 

 dm.) high, from a creeping 

 rhizome; usually closely 

 puhcscent all over with soft 

 whitish hairs. Panicle 2 to 

 3 inches (4-6 cm.) long. 

 pale or sometimes purple- 

 tinged. Spikelets about 2 

 lines (4 mm.) long, obtuse; 

 the second empty glume 

 broader than the first, three- 

 nerved and often short-awned 

 at the apex, both ciliate on 

 the prominent* keels, and 

 thinly pubescent all over; 

 lower floral glume smooth 

 and shining, becoming indu- 

 rated in fruit. Introduced 

 from Europe. May to Aug- 

 ust. The species has been 

 introduced in a few places. 

 It rarely persists. 



Ioua. Ames (Weaver) ; Ames, 1118 (Carver). 



North America. Widely naturalized from New England states 

 "Massachusetts (Boston, Waverly, Pammel), New York (Washington 

 County, Parry), south to Tennessee and Alabama, and occasionally 

 northward ; also upon the Pacific Coast and British America. Wash- 

 ington (Cape Disappointment, Parry). 



General. Great Britain, on the continent of Europe, northern 

 Africa and Siberia. 



2. AVENA. 



Avena L. Sp. PI. 79. 1753. Endlicher. Gen. PI. 96. Benth. and Hook. 

 Gen. PI. 3: 1160. Scribner. Bull. U. S. Dept. Agrl. Div. Agros. 20: 94. /. 70. 

 Hackel in Engler and Prantl. Nat. Pflanz. Fam. II. 2: 55./ 6j. 



