498 Key to the System of 



ELEUSINE. 



2097. Spikes usually four, broad in proportion to their length. 



Annual, generally dwarf, seldom tall ; stems often near the 

 base prostrate and rooting ; leaves flaccid, rather short, 

 broadish, flat, pointed ; spikes from two to eight or 

 exceptionally one only, usually much spreading, slightly 

 pointed by the protruding apex of the rhachis ; spikelets 

 crowded, usually few-flowered ; second lowest bract 

 ending in a short rather thick and slightly curved elon- 

 gation ; fruit-supporting bract much pointed ; seed readily 

 seceding from its pericarpous envelope* short but com- 

 paratively broad, almost granular-rough. 



E. cruciata. 



ERAGROSTXS. 



2098. Spikelets usually with only few flowers. 



Annual, weak, generally dwarf ; leaves flat ; panicle much 

 spreading, with capillary partly whorled branches and 

 branchlets ; spikelets minute ; flowers two to six, rarely 

 seven to ten flowers ; fruit-supporting bracts transparent, 

 blunt ; anthers very minute, almost cordate, dark-violet ; 

 fruit ovate-ellipsoid, smooth, shining, reddish-brown. 



E. teiiella. 



Spikelets usually with many flowers ... ... 209 



2099. Spikelets abbreviated. 



Perennial, rather tall; leaves narrow, longitudinally in- 

 volute ; panicle contracted, its lower branches often 

 distant ; fruit- supporting bracts prominently venular- 

 streaked, opaque ; stamens often two ; fruit ovate-ellipsoid. 



E. diandra. 



Spikelets elongated ... ... ... ... ... 210 



2100. Fruit-supporting bracts transparent. 



Annual, rather or quite tall, but weak, bearing hairlets only 

 at the base of the leaves and in some of the axils of the 

 panicle ; leaves flat, narrow ; panicle much elongated, 

 laxly spreading, its branches capillary ; spikelets narrow, 

 separately stalked, of a somewhat dark tinge, occa- 

 sionally reduced to five flowers ; fruit-supporting bract 

 with only the carinular venule prominent ; fruit pellucid, 

 ovate- ellipsoid, brownish. E. pilosa. 



Fruit-supporting bracts opaque ... ... ... 2101 



