364 ENDOGENOUS PLANTS 



1. P. COinnninis, Trin. Culm terete, smooth ; leaves lance- 

 olate ; panicle loosely expanded ; spikelets 3- to 5-flowered. 

 Arundo Phragmites. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 61. 

 COMMON PHRAGMITES. Reed-Grass. 



Oulni 8 to 12 feet high, and often an inch or more in diameter, at base. Leavet 

 1 to 2 feet long, and about 2 inches wide at base, attenuated at apex, glaucous, 

 scabrous on the margins ; sheaths closely embracing the culm. Panicle much 

 branched, the branches semi-verticillate, long and slender, with a tuft of soft 

 hairs at base; spikelets usually 3-flowered, the lowest florets staminate, the ped- 

 icels of the upper florets finally clothed with white silky hairs which are nearly as 

 long as the florets (though scarcely perceptible on the young panicle). 

 Sab. Swamps; Wynn's meadows, Brandy wine: rare. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This stout grass which attains to the usual size of Broom," 

 corn seems to be common to both hemispheres. It is, however, of 

 little value in agriculture. A nearly allied plant (Arundo Donax, L.) 

 is often seen in the yards and gardens of the curious, under the 

 name of cane. 



B. Lower florets perfect, the terminal ones abortive. 



a. Lower palea 2- or 3-pointed at apex. 



481. TRICUS'PIS, Beauvois. 



[Latin, meaning 3-pointed ; in reference to the lower palea.] 

 Spikelets subterete, 3- to 12- (usually 4- or 5-) flowered, the ter- 

 minal one abortive. Glumes unequal, mucronate. Rachis of the 

 epikelet bearded below each floret. Paleae chartaceous, the lower 

 one much larger than the upper, convex, hairy on the back, 3- 

 nerved, tricuspidate at apex by the projection of the nerves, the 

 upper palea emarginate, 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Stigmas plumose, 

 dark purple. Perennials : culms erect, hard and smooth ; panicle 

 very loose, and spreading, usually purple. 



1. T. SCSlerioides, Torrey. Points of the nerves, in the lower 

 palea, scarcely exceeding the intermediate membranous teeth, the 

 apex thus appearing 5-toothed. 

 SESLERIA-LIKE TRICUSPIS. Tall Red-top. 



Culm 3 to 4 or 5 feet high. Leaves 6 to 15 inches long ; sheaths bearded at throat, 

 upper ones smooth, those below often quite hairy. Panicle somewhat nodding, 

 the branches alternate, or in pairs, long, flexuose, smooth, pilose in the axils. 

 Spikelets on short peduncles, alternate and rather distant on the upper part of the 

 branches, usually 4-flowered. Seed oval, a little gibbous, 2 horned at apex. 

 Sab. Sandy banks, and old fields : frequent. FL Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This grass though lauded by PURSH is certainly of very 

 little agricultural value. 



b. Lower palea 1-pointed, or mucronate. 



482. DAC'TYLIS, L. 



[Gr. Daktylos, a finger ; in reference to the form, or size, of the spikes.] 

 Spikelets 3- to 5-flowered, compressed, crowded in dense one-sided 

 paniculate clusters. Glumes unequal, acuminate, ciliate-scabrous on 

 the keel. Paleae nearly equal, acuminate, the lower one emargin- 

 ate, cuspidate, 5-nerved, the upper one 2-keeled, bifid at apex. 



