GRAMINEAE 369 



1. E, megasttichya, Link. Panicle-branches single, or in pairs, 

 mostly naked in the axils; spikelets 8- to 30- or 40-flowered, 

 usually lead-colored. 



Poa Eragrostis. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 79. 

 LARGE-SPIKED ERAGROSTIS. 



GuLms 6 inches to 1 or even 2 feet long, somewhat decumbent, smooth. Leaves 3 

 to 6 inches in length, lance-linear; sheaths striate, smooth, somewhat pilose at 

 throat. Panicle pyramidal, the branches flexuose, scabrous, the subdivisions 

 often bearing 2, 3, or 4 ovate-oblong spikelets; grain roundish-ovoid, brown. 

 Hob. Gardens, roadsides, &c. Nat. of Europe. FL Aug. Fr. Sept 



Obs. This grass, when fresh gathered, emits a peculiar and rather 

 unpleasant odor, as if scorched. 



2. E. pildsa, Beauvois. Lower panicle-branches subverticillate, 

 hairy in the axils ; sheaths with long white hairs at throat ; spike- 

 lets 5- to 12-flowered ; glumes very unequal. 



Poa pilosa. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 78. 

 HAIRY ERAGROSTIS. 



Ctdms 6 to 12 inches long, often decumbent and geniculate at base, slender, 

 smooth. Leaves 1 to 3 or 4 inches in length. Panicle loose; branches flexuose ; 

 spikelets sub-linear ; grain oblong, brown. 

 Hob. Gardens, roadsides, &c. Nat. of Europe. FL July. Fr. Sept. 



3. E. caplllslris, Nees. Panicle-branches very slender, naked 

 in the axils ; spikelets about 3-flowered, green, on long capillary 

 pedicels. 



Poa capillaris. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 77. 

 CAPILLARY, OR HAIR-PANICLED ERAGROSTIS. 



Culms 6 to 12 inches long, oblique, or erect, somewhat compressed, much branch- 

 ed at base, smooth. Leaves 3 to 6 inches in length ; sheaths rather loose, often 

 ciliate along the margins. Panicle long (often longer than the culm), loose, much 

 branched; spikelets ovate, sometimes 5-flowered; glumes nearly equal; grain oval, 

 gibbous at base, reddish-brown. 

 Bab. Sandy soils; slaty hills : not very common. FL Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. A variety of this, with an erect culm, long radical leaves, and 

 a large capillary panicle, with spikelets 1- to 3-flowered, occurs 

 on our slaty hills. 



4. E. pectblli, A. Gray. Panicle-branches rigid, finally 

 divaricate, bearded in the axils ; spikelets 5- to ID-flowered, mostly 

 purple. 



Poa hirsuta. Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 78, not of MX. 

 SHOWY ERAGROSTIS. 



Culm 9 to 18 inches long, rather stout, mostly simple and smooth. Leaves 6 to 

 15 inches long; sheaths loose, longer than the internodes, the lower ones hairy, 

 upper ones smooth ; ligule densely bearded. Panicle 8 to 15 inches long, much 

 branched ; spikelets lance-oblong ; glumes nearly equal ; grain minute, purple. 

 Hob. Sterile, sandy fields; roadsides, &c.: frequent. FL Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This handsome, showy grass, has no agricultural value; 

 and the same may be said of all the preceding species. 



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