GRAMINE.E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 667 



acute summit, glabrous, prominently 5-7-nerved, the nerves parallel and sep- 

 arate. Squaniulae fleshy and truncate, or none. Stamens commonly 2. Styles 

 present; stigmas compoundly plumose. Ovary smooth. Grain oblong, free, 

 the furrow very narrow or none. Perennial smooth marsh grasses, mostly 

 with creeping bases or rootstocks; spikelets pauicled. (Name from y\vK.ej)6s, 

 sweet, in allusion to the taste of the grain.) 



* Spikelets ovate, oblong, or linear-oblong, 1 3" in length, 

 -- At length nodding in an open panicle, flatfish laterally but turgid. 



1. G. Canadensis, Trin. (RATTLESNAKE-GRASS.) Culm stout, 2-3 

 high ; leaves long, roughish ; panicle oblong-pyramidal, at length drooping ; 

 spikelets ovate, at length very broad and tumid, Briza-like, 2" long, pale, with 

 purplish glumes ; flowering glume acute or blunt-pointed, firm, with not very 

 prominent nerves, longer than the rounded palet. Bogs and wet places ; com- 

 mon from Penn. to E. Kan., and northward. July. 



*- *- Erect in a narrow contracted panicle, somewhat flattened and turgid. 



2. G. obtusa, Trin. Culm stout, 1-2 high, very leafy; leaves long, 

 smooth; panicle narrowly oblong, dense (3 -5' long); spikelets 3 - 7-flowered, 

 2-3" long; flowering glume obtuse. Bogs, E. New Eng. to Peiiu. and 

 southward, near the coast. 



3. G. elongata, Trin. Leaves very long (1 or more), rough ; panicle 

 narrowly racemose, elongated (1 long), recurving; the branches and 3-4-flow- 

 ered spikelets oppressed ; flowering glume obtuse. Wet woods, N. Eng. to 

 Mich., Minn., and northward; Roan Mt., N. C. (Scribner). July- Aug. 



-i- <- -i- Diffuse ; flower-glume truncate-obtuse, strongly 7 -nerved ; palet 2-toothed. 



4. G. nervata, Trin. (FOWL MEADOW-GRASS.) (PI. 10, fig. 1-3.) 

 Culm erect, 1-3 high; leaves rather long; branches of the loose panicle 

 capillary, at length drooping, the numerous small spikelets (1 - 2" long, commonly 

 purplish) ovate-oblong, 3 - 7-flowered. Moist meadows ; common. June. 



5. G. pallida, Trin. Culms slender, 1 -3 long, ascending from a creep- 

 ing base ; leaves short, sharp-pointed, pale ; branches of the rather simple panicle 

 slender, erect-spreading, rough; the spikelets usually few, somewhat oppressed, 

 oblong -linear, 5-9-flowered (pale, 2-3" long); flowering glume minutely 5- 

 toothed ; the palet lanceolate, conspicuously 2-toothed. Shallow water ; Maine 

 to Va., west to Ky., Ind., and Mich. ; common, especially northward. July. 



6. G. grandis, Watson. (REED MEADOW-GRASS.) Culm stout, up- 

 right, 3-5 high ; leaves large (1-2 long, - \' wide) ; panicle much branched, 

 ample (8 - 15' long), the numerous branches ascending, spreading with age ; spike- 

 lets oblong or linear-oblong, 3-6-flowered (usually purplish, 2-3" long) ; flow- 

 ering glume entire. (G. aquatica of Amer. authors.) Wet grounds ; N. Eng. 

 to western N. Y., Mich., Minn., and westward. 



* * Spikelets linear (- V long), pale, oppressed on the branches of the long nar- 

 row racemose panicle, terete except during anthesis ; palets minutely roughish, 

 the upper 2-toothed ; squamula; unilateral or united ; ligule long; culm flat- 

 tened (1 -5 high), ascending from a rooting base. (Glyceria, R. Br.) 



7. G. fluitaus, R. Br. Panicle 1 long ; the simple branches appressed, 

 finally spreading below ; leaves short and rather broad, very smooth ; spikelets 



