Descriptions of some new Grasses. 155 



Leaves long, very narrow, almost filiform at the extremity. 

 Sheaths smooth. Stipule a bearded ring. 



Panicle 6 — S inches long, erect, many-flowered ; flowers pur- 

 plish, closely approximate on the extremity of the branches. 



Calyx two-glumed ; glumes very unequal, linear-lanceolate, 

 acute, carinate ; the inferior much shorter than the corolla ; 

 superior about as long as the corolla. 



Corolla on a short bearded stipe, two-valved, sub-cylindric, 

 scabrous ; inferior valve involute, half an inch long ; awns 

 longer than the flower, spreading, filiform, scabrous. 



Stamens three ; anthers purplish. 



Germen linear, elongated ; stigmas plumose. 



Hab. In forests of the Canadian river. 



This species is nearly allied to A. purpurascens of Poiret, 

 but is distinguished by its branched culm, its short calyx, and 

 by its shorter awns. 



8. UNIOLA ? STRICTA.* 



Very smooth ; leaves narrow, erect ; panicle erect, con- 

 tracted ; spikelets linear-oblong, many-flowered ; flowers 

 straight, awnless. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Root perennial, creeping ? 



Culm a foot or more high, erect, rather slender, terete, with 

 short branches at the base, smooth and shining, leafy. 



Leaves 3 — 6 inches long, linear, flat, attenuated at the extremity, 

 very smooth near the base, except a slight hairiness on the 

 upper surface, somewhat glaucous, finely striate. Sheaths 

 about as long as the joints. Stipule nearly obsolete. 



Panicle nearly simple, contracted, consisting of 6 — 10 large 

 spikelets. Spikelets three-fourths of an inch long, lanceo- 

 late, compressed and sub-ancipital, 10 — 18-flowered» 



