GRAMINE^E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 561 



panicle. Rachis jointed. Glumes membranaceous, obtuse, persistent. Palea 

 nearly equal, somewhat chartaceous, obtuse, early falling away with the separat- 

 ing joints of the rachis; the lower one naked, convex, 7-nerved. Stamens 2-3. 

 Grain free, oblong. 



1. G. nervata, Trin. Culms erect; panicle diffuse, the capillary branches 

 at length drooping ; spikelets purplish, very numerous, ovate-oblong, 5 - 6-flow- 

 ered, nearly terete ; lower palea oblong, obtuse, 7-nerved. (Poa parviflora, Pursh.) 

 Wet swamps, West Florida, and northward. July. Culms 2 -3 high. 

 Spikelets 2" long. 



2. Gr. pallida, Trin. Culms erect or ascending ; panicle narrow, nearly 

 simple, with the capillary branches erect ; spikelets pale, oblong-linear, 5 - 9-flow- 

 ered, nearly terete ; lower palea oblong, minutely 5-toothed, 7-nerved. Shallow 

 water, North Carolina, and northward. July. Culms 1 - 3 long. Spikelets 

 ^' long. 



3. G. fluitans, R. Brown. Culms thick, ascending from a creeping base ; 

 leaves long, broadly linear ; panicle long, narrow, racemose ; spikelets linear, te- 

 rete, pale, loosely 7-13-flowered (!' long); lower palea obtuse, or slightly 3- 

 lobed at the scarious apex, roughish'. 7-nerved. (Poa fluitans, Ell.) Shallow 

 water in the upper districts, and northward. June and July. Culms 1 - 5 

 long. Panicle 1 long. 



4. G. rigida, Smith. Culms low (2'-4'high), ascending, rigid; leaves 

 subulate, ' - 1| long, involute and rigid when dry ; panicle 1'- 1 J' long, lance- 

 olate, dense, 1-sided; spikelets linear, acute, 5 - 1 1 -flowered, short-pedicelled ; 

 glumes serrulate on the keel; palese obtuse, emarginate or mucronate. (Poa 

 rigida, L.) Dry soils, around Beaufort, South Carolina, Elliott. April and 

 May. 



29. ARUNDJNARIA, Michx. CANE or RKED. 



Tall woody grasses, with clustered spreading branches, broad and flat persist- 

 ent leaves, and racemose or panicled many-flowered spikelets. Glumes unequal, 

 concave, membranaceous, awn-pointed. Palea? rather loosely imbricated on the 

 bearded and jointed rachis, nearly equal ; the lowest one ovate-lanceolate, con- 

 cave, many-nerved, awn-pointed; the upper strongly 2-keeled. Stamens 3. 

 Stigmas 3. Grain oblong, free. 



1. A. gigantea. (CANE.) Culms arborescent, 10 -20 high, rigid, sim- 

 ple the first year, branching the second, afterwards at indefinite periods fruiting, 

 and soon after decaying; leaves lanceolate (l'-2' wide), acuminate, smoothish ; 

 panicles lateral, composed of few simple racemes ; spikelets purple, erect ; lower 

 palea lanceolate-ovate, pubescent, fringed (8" long), awn-pointed (Arundinaria 

 macrosperma, Michx.) Banks of the larger rivers, Florida to North Carolina- 

 February. 



2. A. tecta, Muhl. (REED.) Culms slender, 2 - 10 high, branching; leaves 

 linear-lanceolate, acuminate, ronghish, the sheaths bearded at the throat ; spike- 

 lets solitary, or in a simple raceme at the summit of the branches, or frequently 



