740 GRAM1NE.E PHLEUM 



ALOPECUBTIS 



On dry plains, southern Oregon to the Eastern States. 



A. fascicnlata Torr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. i, 154. Glabrous : stems slen- 

 der, erect, 1-2 feet high, often branched at the base : sheaths shorter than 

 the internodes : ligules short, ciliate : leaves erect, 6 inches long, 1 line 

 wide or less, flat, attenuate to a long point, smooth or scabrous : panicle 

 3-7 inches long, at first strict, its branches finally more or less spreading : 

 first glume linear 1-nerved, shorter than the second, 4-5 lines long: second 

 one similar, about 6 lines long: flowering glumes about equalling the second 

 one terminating in 3 nearly equal slender awns 6-8 lines long. On dry 

 plains, Idaho to California "and Kansas. 



24 PHLEUM L. Sp. 59. 



Annual or perennial grasses with flat leaves and numerous 

 spikelets in dense spicate panicles. Spikelets one-flowered. 

 Glumes 3, the 2 lower ones empty, membranous, compressed, 

 keeled, the apex obliquely truncate, the midnerve produced into 

 an awn. Flowering glume much shorter and broader, hyaline, 

 truncate, denticulate at the summit. Palet narrow, hyaline. 

 Stamens 3. Styles distinct, somewhat elongated, with plumose 

 stigmas. Grain ovoid, loosely enclosed by the glume and palet. 



P. pratense L. Sp. 59. Smooth or nearly so : perennial with bulbous 

 roots : stems 1-4 feet high, erect, simple : sheaths usually exceeding the 

 internodes, sometimes shorter, the upper ones long, and not inflated or 

 very slightly so: ligules 1-2 lines long, lounded: leaves flat, 3-16 inches 

 long, 2-3 lines wide, smooth or scabrous : panicle usually elongated, cylin- 

 drical 1-7 inches long : empty glumes exclusive of the awns \% lines long 

 ciliate on the keel, the awn less than half their length : flowering glume 

 very thin, truncate: palet equalling the glume. Common in field,s and 

 waste places. 



P. alpinnm L. Sp. 59. Smooth or nearly so perennial : stems erect, 

 6-18 inches high, simple : sheaths often much shorter than the internodes, 

 sometimes longer, the upper one usually much inflated : ligules about 1 

 line long, truncate: leaves smooth beneath, scabrous above, the lower 2-3 

 inches long, 1-4 lines wide, the upper one usually very short: panicle short 

 and dense, ovoid to oblong, %-2 inches long, 3-6 lines thick : empty glumes, 

 exclusive of the awn 1)^ lines long, strongly ciliate on the keel, the awn 

 about half as long as the body : flowering glume oblong. In wet meadows 

 on high mountains, California to Alaska and across the continent. 



25 ALOPECURUS L. Sp. 60. 



Annual or perennial grasses with usually flat leaves and num- 

 erous spikelets in dense spike-like panicles. Spikelets one-flow- 

 ered, flattened. Empty glumes acute, sometimes short-awned, 

 more or less united below, compressed, keeled, the keel ciliate or 

 somewhat winged. Flowering glume obtuse or truncate, hyaline, 

 three-nerved, awned on the back. Palet hyaline, acute. Stamens 

 three. Styles distinct or rarely united at base. Stigmas elon- 

 gated, hairy. 



A. .AGRESTIS L. Sp. ed. 2, 89. Stems 1-2 feet high, erect, simple: 

 sheaths shorter than the internodes : ligules 1 line long, truncate : leaves 

 2-7 inches long, 1-3 lines wide, scabrous, especially above : panicle 



inches long, 2-4 lines thick : empty glumes united at base for about half 

 their length narrowly wing-keeled, 2-2> lines long, the nerves smooth or 



