436 GRAMINE^. [CYNODON. 



19. CY'NODON, Rich. Doc's-TOOTH GRASS. 



Spikelets laterally compressed, on one side of radiating spreading spikes, 

 1-fld. with the rudiments of an upper (rarely perfect) flower at the base 

 of the palea. Empty glumes 2, much smaller than the flowering, awnless, 

 spreading, subequal. Fl. glume convex, 3-nerved. Palea narrow, ^-nerved. 

 Scales fleshy, truncate. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous ; styles 2, rather long, 

 stigmas feathery. Fruit laterally compressed, enveloped in the fl. glume 

 and palea. DISTRIB. Temp, and trop. regions ; species 8. ETYM. KTUWV 

 and o8oi/y, dog's-tooth. 



1. C. Dac'tylon, Pers. ; leaves short involute, tips obtuse. 

 Sandy shores of S.W. England, Dorset to Cornwall ; Channel Is. ; fl. July- 

 Aug. Perennial. Stems 4-10 in., stout, woody, prostrate and extensively 

 creeping, with short suberect leafy and flowering branches, smooth ; fl. 

 branches clothed with strongly furrowed sheaths. Leave* subulate, stiff, 

 glaucous, strongly nerved ; sheaths pale, mouth hairy. Spikes 3-6, 1-2 in., 

 radiating, purplish; rachis convex, grooved above. >)<//, A '\ ,'..-,' in., 

 imbricate ; empty glumes ovate, acute ; keelscabrid. DISTIUB. Europe from 

 Holland southwards, Asia, Africa ; introd. in N. America. The chief pas- 

 ture of many dry climates. Doab and Bermuda, grass. 



2O. AIR'A, L. 



Spikelets laterally compressed, panicled, 2-fld. with sometimes a rudi- 

 mentary terminal 3d glume. Empty glumes 2, equalling the flowering, 

 membranous, subequal, acute, 1-nerved. Fl. glumes pedicelled, membranous, 

 subequal, convex, 3-nerved, toothed, awned at the back. Palea 2-ncrvcd, 

 2-fid. Scales acuminate, entire or 2-fid. Stnmens 3. Ovary glabrous ; 

 stigmas subterminal, feathery to the base. Fruit terete, free or adnate to 

 the fl. glume and palea. DISTRIB. Temp, regions ; species 30. ETYM. A 

 Greek name for some grass. 



Srn-cKN. 1. Deschamp'sia, Bcauv. (gen.). Perennial. Fl. ///// ///* trun- 

 cate, toothed, 3-5-nervcd ; awn from near the base. Scales entire. Fruit 

 free, not grooved. 



1. A. flexuo'sa, L. ; leaves filiform terete solid, branches of panicle 

 spreading capillary, spikelcts subterete. 



Dry woods, heaths, &c. ; ascending to nearly 3,700 ft. in the Highlands ; fl. 

 June- Aug. Stems -2 ft., erect, slender, polished, naked above. /,,.<.< 

 short, curved, obtuse, grooved (not involute), sheath of upper long ; ligulc 

 short, obtuse. Panicle 2-5 in. ; branches 2-3-nate. Spikelets in. ; purplit-h 

 or yellow-brown, shining ; empty glumes acuminate ; awn about J as loiijj-as 

 the spikelet, erect, then bent or twisted. DISTKIB. Europe (Arctic), W. 

 Siberia, W. Asia, N. America, Fuegia. Often viviparous. 



VAR. 1, monlana, L. (sp.); subalpine, glumes larger more purple. V.\u. '2, 

 ,>;<'</inosa, Weihe (sp.) ; leaves capillary, upper fl. glume longer pedicelled. 



2. A. csespito'sa, L. ; leaves flat scabrid, branches of nodding panicle 

 flexuous, spikelets much compressed. 



Wet meadows, woods, &c. ; ascending to nearly 3,000 ft. in tlie Highlands ; 

 fl. June-July. Stems 2-4 ft, rather stout, leafy, shining, smooth. Lttam 



