144 



GRAMLNEAE (GRASS FAMILY) 



49. BECKMANNIA Host 



Spikelets 1-flowered in our species, broad, laterally compressed, closely imbri- 

 cated in 2 rows along one side of a continuous rhachis, forming short unilateral 

 spikes ; rhachilla articulated below the glumes ; glumes subequal, inflated, boat- 

 shaped, chartaceous, margin scarious ; lemma lanceolate, 

 acuminate, palea nearly as long ; grain free within the 

 rigid lemma and palea. A rather tall erect perennial, 

 with flat leaves and a terminal elongated narrow nearly 

 simple panicle. (Named for Johann Seckmann, 1739- 

 1811, professor of botany at Goettingen.) 



1. B. erucaeftirmis (L.) Host. Light green ; culms 

 6-10 dm. high ; sheaths loose, overlapping ; blades 1-2.5 

 dm. long, 5-8 mm. wide, scabrous ; panicle 1-2.5 dm. 

 long, the spikes appressed ; spikelets nearly circular, 

 132. B. erucaeformis. 3 mm. long ; the glumes transversely wrinkled ; the acu- 

 Part of inflorescence x l / s . ininate apex of the lemma protruding beyond the glumes. 

 Part of same x y g . Wet ground. Minn., la., and westw. ; adv. in O. FIG. 



Spikelets and floret x 2. 132. 



50. CYNODON Richard. BERMUDA or SCUTCH GRASS 



Spikelets 1-flowered, laterally compressed, awnless, singly sessile in 2 rows 

 along one iiae of a slender continuous axis, forming unilateral spikes ; rhachilla 

 prolonged behind the palea into a blunt pedicel ; glumes un- 

 equal, narrow, acute, keeled ; lemma broad, boat-shaped, 

 obtuse, ciliate on the keel ; palea as long as the lemma, the 

 prominent keels close together, ciliolate; grain free within the 

 lemma and palea. Low diffusely branched and extensively 

 creeping perennials, with flat leaves and slender spikes digitate 

 at the apex of the upright branches. (Name composed of KI/WV, 

 a dog, and 63orfs, a tooth.) CAPRIOLA Adans. 



1. C. DACTTI.ON (L.) Pers. Glabrous; culms flattened, 

 wiry ; ligule a conspicuous ring of white hairs ; spikes 4-5, 

 2-5 cm. long ; spikelets imbricated, 2 mm. long ; lemma longer 

 than the glumes. ( Capriola Ktze.) Fields and waste places, 133. o. Dactylon. 

 Mass., and south w., where it is cultivated for pasturage. (Nat. inflorescence xy 4 . 

 from Eu.) Seldom perfects seed. FIG. 133. 8pikeletx4. 



51. SCHEDONNARDUS Steud. 



Spikelets 1-flowered, sessile and appressed, alternate and distant along one 

 side of a slender triangular rhachis, forming very slender spikes ; glumes narrow, 

 unequal, with strong rigid keels, pointed, shorter than the 

 lanceolate acuminate scabrous lemma ; palea nearly as long 

 as the lemma ; grain free within the subrigid lemma and 

 palea. A low diffusely branching annual with short narrow 

 leaves and slender paniculate spikes. (Name from p xeS6', 

 near, and Nardiis, from its resemblance to that genus.) 



1. S. paniculitus (Nutt.) Trel. Culms 3-5 dm. high, erect 

 or decumbent at base, leafy below ; sheaths and blades smooth ; 

 panicle half or more than half the entire height of the plant, 

 its axis usually falcate, the spikes solitary and remote, mostly 

 along the convex side, rigid; spikelets 4 mm. long. (S. tex- 

 anus Steud.) Open ground and salt licks, 111. to Mont., Col., 

 and Tex. At maturity the panicle becomes much elongated and decumbent, 

 the axis extending in a large loose spiral. FIG. 134. 



m. S. paniculatus. 

 Part of spike x 1%. 

 S pikelet x 8. 



