244 GRASSES OF IOWA. 



lower often overlapping; ligule I to 2 lines (2-4 mm.) long; leaves 4 to 

 7 inches (8-14 cm.) long, 2 to 4 lines (4-8 mm.) wide, rough; panicle 

 6^ to 8^ inches (13-17 cm.) in length, open, the branches spreading or 

 ascending, the lower 1^ to 3 inches (3-6 cm.) long; spikelets usually 

 numerous, about three-flowered, 4^ to 5^ lines (9-1 1 mm.) long, nod- 

 ding, on slender, more or less flexuose, pubescent pedicels ; empty, basal 

 scales very broad, obtuse or acutish, the first shorter than the second, 

 which is generally much exceeded by the spikelet; flowering scales 3-^ 

 to 4^ lines (7-1 1 mm.) long, acute or obtuse, scabrous. May to June. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Iowa. Ames, 33 (Ball, Bessey) ; Alt. Pleasant, 868 (Mills); 

 Johnson County (Shimek) ; Iowa City (Hitchcock) ; Jasper County 

 (Preston). 



North America. From Pennsylvania, Oiiio (Columbus, Sulli- 

 vant), to Virginia; west to southeastern Iowa, Missouri (Jefferson 

 Barracks, Pammel), Kentucky and Texas (Coleman County, Pammel, 

 Reverchon). 



2. MELICA PARVIFLORA. 



Melica parviflora Scrib. Mem. Torr. Bot. Club. 5: 50. 1895. 



Melica parviflora (Porter.) Scribn. Beal. Grasses of N. A. 

 2: 502. 1896. Nash in Britton and Brown. 111. Fl. 1: 195. /. 441. 1896. 

 Scribner. Bull. U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Agros. 7: 264. /. 25S . 1900, 

 (3 ed.) 



DESCRIPTION'. 



Small Flowered Melic. A rather slender, erect, smooth peren- 

 nial, 1-}- to l\ feet (4-7 dm.) high, with flat leaves and narrow panicles, 

 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm.) long. Sheaths short, overlapping, scabrous; 

 ligule 1 line (2 mm.) long; leaf-blades 5 to 9 inches (12-23 cm.) long, 

 1 to 2 lines (2-4 mm.) wide, scabrous. Spikelets pendulous and race- 

 mose along the panicle branches, 4 to 5 flowered, 5 to 6 lines (10-13 

 mm.) long; empty glumes obtuse, the first shorter than the second; 

 flowering glumes 3^ to 4 lines (7-8 mm.) long, acutish, scabrous. Shaded 

 canyons. July to September. 



