GBAMINEAE 357 



Perennial. Culm 2 to 4 feet high, smooth, often a little bulbous at base. Leaves 

 6 to 12 or 15 inches long, roughish, glaucous. Spike 3 to 6 or 8 inches in length, 

 green. Paleae concealed in the glumes. 

 Sab. Fields, and meadows. Nat. of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This valuable grass is now extensively naturalized ; but it 

 is also diligently cultivated, by every thrifty Farmer. In New 

 York, and throughout New England, it is known by the name of 

 Herd's Grass, a name which, in Pennsylvania, is applied ex- 

 clusively to Agrostis vulgaris, L. 



B. TRUE AGROSTID'EAE : Inflorescence not strictly spiked, often 

 loosely panicled ; spikelets usually small; glumes often unequal. 



f Glumes and paleae, neither owned, nor mucranate ; florets naked at base. 



4?O. VIL/FA, Adanson. 



[One of the arbitrary names, coined by Adanson, probably without meaning.] 

 Spikelets in a contracted spike-form panicle. Glumes 1-nerved, or 

 nerveless, the lower one smaller. Paleae usually longer than the 

 glumes, and of similar texture. Stamens mostly 3. Culms wiry; 

 leaves involute, the sheaths often inclosing the lateral panicles. 



1. V. vaginaeflura, Torrey. Culms ascending, geniculate ; 

 paleae about the length of the glumes. 



Agrostis Virginica. Muhl. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 57. not of L. 

 SHEATH-FLOWERING VILFA. 



Annual t Culms 6 to 12 or 15 inches long, nearly simple, cespitose, spreading. 

 Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, subulate at apex ; sheaths smooth, hairy at throat, often 

 loose, and tumid with the inclosed panicles. Stamens often wanting, in the lateral 

 panicles. 

 Hob. Dry banks; road sides, Ac.: frequent. FL Aug. Fr. Sept. 



ft Glumes, or the lower palea, usually awned, or mucronate; florets often hairy at 

 base. 



411. AGROS'TIS, L. 



[Or. Agros, a field; its usual place of growth.] 



Spikelets in an open panicle. Glumes nearly equal, often longer 

 the paleae, pointless. Paleae very thin, pointless, naked at base, 

 the lower one sometimes awned on the back, the upper one often 

 minute, or wanting. Stamens usually 3. Chiefly perennials : culms 

 slender, cespitose. 



1. TRICHODIUM : upper palea obsolete, or wanting. 



1. A. pereiinailS, A. Gray. Culms geniculate, decumbent at 

 base; panicle pale green, the spikelets rather scattered on the 

 shortish branches. 



Trichodium scabrum. Muhl. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 54. 

 ENDURING AGROSTIS. 



Culm 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves 4 to 6 inches long ; sJieaths generally closed, smooth. 

 Sptitdets not clustered; glumes with scarious margins; palea, generally awnless, 

 sometimes with a conspicuous awn on the back. 

 Hob. Dry, open woodlands: common. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



