606 GRAMINE.E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 



imbricated in two rows on one side of the triangular rachis, forming ap- 

 pressed or spreading alternate spikes. Empty glumes 2, unequal, acute or 

 short-awued, commonly bristly -serrulate on the keel ; the upper mostly longer 

 than the awnless floret. Palet thin, shorter than the glume. Stamens 1 -3. 

 Styles long, united below, or nearly distinct. Grain free. 



* Leaves convolute, rush-like. 



1. S. juncea, Willd. Spikes 3-9, remote, erect ; upper glume 2-3 times 

 longer than the lower one ; flowering glume, and sometimes the palet, rough 

 above. Sandy or marshy places along the coast. July -August. Culms 

 l-3high. Leaves pungent. Spikes 1'- 2' long. Stamens 1-3. 



2. S. junciformis, Engelm. & Gray. Spikes 15-30, closely imbricated 

 in a cylindrical spike, the lowest rather distinct ; upper glume one third 

 longer than the lower one, obtuse, mucrouate ; flowering glume rough on the 

 back, the palet smooth. Sandy saline swamps, West Florida. July - Au- 

 gust. Culms (2 -4 high) and rush-like leaves very rigid. Common spike 

 4' - 6' long. Proper spikes 4" - 6" long. 



* * Leaves concave or flat. 



3. S. polystachya, Willd. Spikes numerous, spreading ; upper glume 

 and nearly equal floret slightly roughened, 2-3 times longer than the lower 

 one ; leaves broad (\' ' - 1-J'), concave, very rough on the margins. Brackish 

 marshes, Florida to North Carolina. August -Sept. Culms stout, 4 -8 

 high. Spikes 2' -3' long, racemed. 



4. S. glabra, Muhl. Spikes numerous, appressed to the common rachis ; 

 upper glume linear, obtuse, 3 times the length of the lower one, glabrous ; 

 leaves concave, smooth on the margins. Salt marshes, Florida, and north- 

 ward. August-Sept. Culms 2 -4 high. Leaves narrower than the last, 

 elongated. 



5. S. cynosurioides, Willd. Spikes 5 - 20, erect, 3' - 4' long ; glumes 

 awned, the upper twice as long as the lower one ; flowering glume hispid on 

 the keel ; palet smooth, obtuse. Marshes, Tennessee. August. Culms 3 - 

 4 high. Leaves soon convolute. 



47. GYMNOPOGON, Beauv. 



Low perennial grasses, with short and crowded distichous spreading leaves. 

 Spikelets appressed, scattered on the straight and at length reflexed branches 

 of the simple panicle, consisting of 1 - 3 perfect flowers and an awn-like pedi- 

 cel above. Empty glumes 2, subulate, hispid-serrulate. Floret shorter than 

 the glumes, its glume awned under the apex. Stamens 3. 



1. G. racemosus, Beauv. Culms (1 high) rigid; leaves lanceolate 

 (!'- 2' long) ; branches of the panicle bearing the linear spikelets from the 

 base to the summit ; spikelets 1-flowered; awn 2-3 times the length of the 

 floret. Dry sandy soil. Sept. - Oct. 



2. G. brevifolius, Trin. Culms and panicle usually more slender ; 

 spikelets 1 - 3-flowered ; oftener borne above the middle of the branches ; awn 

 shorter than the floret ; otherwise like the preceding. Low pine barrens. 

 Sept. - Oct. 



