492 Key to the System of 



AIVXFHIPOGON. 



2076. Inflorescence almost cylindrical, short. 



Seldom tall ; leaves comparatively short, quite narrow, 

 pointed, somewhat rigid ; spike-like panicle dense, occa- 

 sionally shortened to an ovate-ellipsoid form ; outer bracts 

 broadish, but short; awns of the fruit-supporting and 

 fruit-covering bracts lobe-like and ciliolated, finally some- 

 what divergent ; fruit loose within its bracts. 



A, strict us. 



ECHINOFOGCm. 



2077. Inflorescence often almost capitular. 



Rather tall, somewhat harsh ; leaA r es comparatively short, 

 nearly flat, rather rough ; inflorescence varying from 

 narrow-ellipsoid to almost globular, greenish ; spikelets 

 quite small ; lowest bract about as long as the next ; 

 inner bracts slightly longer ; awn straight, rough, about 

 twice as long as the pertaining bract ; fruit loose within 

 its bracts. E. ovatus. 



AGROSTIS. 



2078. Outer bracts much shorter than the inner, truncate- 



blunt. 



Rather dwarf ; leaves very narrow, involute along the 

 margin ; panicle short, somewhat spreading ; spikelets 

 remarkably small ; outer bracts broad in proportion to 

 their length ; fruit-supporting bract awnless ; additional 

 rhacheolar stalklet present, flowerless, glabrous. 



A. breviglumis. 



Outer bracts about as long as the lowest inner or 

 longer, usually acute ... ... ... ... 2079 



2079. Panicle contracted ... 2080 



Panicle spreading 2084 



Lowest bracts about as long as the fruit-supporting 

 bract ... 2081 



Lowest bracts considerably longer than the fruit- 

 supporting bract 2082 



