GRAMINE.E. 387 



polygamous ; consisting of imbricated bracts, of which the 

 most exterior are called glumes, (calyx of Linnasus,) the inte- 

 rior immediately enclosing the stamens palea, (corol Linn.) 

 and the innermost at the base of the ovary scales, (nectary 

 Linn.) Glumes usually 2, alternate, sometimes single, most 

 commonly unequal. Palea 2, alternate ; the lower or exterior 

 simple ; the upper or interior composed of 2 united by their 

 contiguous margins, and usually with 2 keels, together forming 

 a kind of dislocated calyx. Scales 2 or 3, sometimes wanting ; 

 if 2, collateral, alternate with the paleee, and next the lower of 

 them ; distinct or united. Stamens hypogynous, 1 6, or 

 rarely indefinite ; anthers versatile. Ovary simple ; styles 2, 

 rarely 1 or 3 ; stigmas feathery or hairy. Pericarp usually 

 undistinguishable from the seed, membranous. Albumen fari- 

 naceous ; embryo lying on one side of the albumen near its 

 base. 



Culms cylindrical, hollow, jointed. Leaves alternate, with 

 a split sheath. Flowers in little spikes called locustce, arrang- 

 ed in a spiked, racemed, or panicled manner. . 



I)iv. I. AGROSTIDEJE. Inflorescence panicled, sometimes 

 contracted into the form of a spike. Spikelets solitary, 1- 

 flowered. Glumes and palecB of nearly similar texture, 

 most usually with a keel. Lower palece either beardeH or 

 beardless, the 1 upper never with 2 keels. 



1. AGROSTIS. Linn. 



Glume naked, beardless, 2-valved, 1-flowered ; valves long- 

 er than the paleaB. Palea 2, membranous, often hairy at 

 base, enclosing the seed. Triandria. Digynia. 



1. A. stricta IVtUd.: panicle elongated, straight; valves of the 

 glume equal ; palese smaller than the valves, unequal, with an awn at 

 the base of the outer one longer than the flower. 



HAS. Fields. N. Eng. MvhL June. !. Culm erect, smooth 

 with black nodes. Leaves linear-lanceolate, scabrous on the 

 margin. Aivn geniculate, twice as long as the flower. 



2. A. vulgaris Smith : panicle with smoothish and at length divari- 

 cate branches ; palese unequal, outer one 3-nerved ; stipule very short 

 and truncate. A. hispida Willd. 



HAS. Meadows. Throughout the U. S. July. 2JL. Culm 

 18 20 inches high, ascending, smooth. Leaves flat, scabrous. 

 Flowers purplish. Introduced. Red-top. 



3. A. alba Linn. : panicle lax, with hispid and spreading branches ; 



