GllAMINEiF.. (grass FAMILY ) 673 



75. ELYMUS, L. Lyme-Gras*. Wild Kve. (PI. 11.) 



Spikelets 2 -4 at each joint of the rhachis of a terminal spike, all fertile 

 and alike, s«;ssile, each 1 - 7-tlowered. Glumes conspicuous, nearly side by 

 sitie in front of the spikelets, 2 for eacli spikelet, formini; an involucre to the 

 cluster. Flower coriaceous; the glume rounded on tlic l>ai;k, acute or awneil 

 at the apex. Grain adherent to the involving glume (wiieuco the uame, an 

 ancient oue for some grain, from iKvu, to roll up). 



* Glumes and Jlowcrs Jirm or ri(ju/, all or onli/ the latter aicnaiji ; spikelets 1-5- 



Jlowered ; slender perennials, with rather harsh and broad Jlat learcs. 

 ■*- Spike large and stout. 



1. E. Virginicus, L. (I'l. U, fig. 1-3.) Culm stout, 2-3° high ; spike 

 rtgl(il;i upright, dense (2 -3' long, 6' thick), the short fxdumle usualli/ iwlndid 

 in the sheath; spikelets 2-3 together, 2 -3-Ho\vered, smooth, rather sliort- 

 awned, about tlic length of the thickeneil strongly-nerved and bristle-pointed 

 lanrcoldtc glaiiK s. — Hiver-l)auks ; common. Aug. 



2. E. Canadensis, L. Sjiike soon nodding (5-9' long), on an cxscrted 

 peduncle ; spikelets mostly in pairs, of 3 - 5 long-avvned rough or rough-hairy 

 flowers ; the awl-shaped glumes tipped with shorter awns. — Var. gi^\ucik6lii;s, 

 Gray, is pale or glaucous throughout, the flowers with more spreading awns 

 (1|' long). — Var. iNTERMi:r>ius, Vasey, has the awns scarcely longer than the 

 glumes. — River-banks ; common. 



-t- -t- Spike and cubn more slender. 



3. E. StriatUS, WiUd. More or less pubescent ; spike dense and thiekisk 

 (2-4' long), upright or slightly nodding; spikelets mostly in pairs, 1-2- (or 

 rarely 3-) flowered, minutely bristly-hairy; glumes awl-shaped, bristle-awned, 

 1 -3-uerved, about thrice the length of the Jlowers, which are only 3" loug ex- 

 clusive of the capillary awn (1' long). — Var. vill6sus, Gray, has very hairy 

 flowers and glumes, and villous sheaths. — Rocky woods and banks. July, 

 Aug. 



4. E. SibiriCUS, L., var. AmericanuS. Glabrous ; spike icand-like 

 (2-6' long, 2-3" thick), often somewhat nodding; spikelets in pairs, 3 - 6- 

 flowered ; glumes linear-lanceolate, 3 - 5-nerved, acuminate and smooth or often 

 scabrous on the nerves, short<iwned , shorter than the Jlowers, which bear an 

 erect awn of once or twice their length. — Manjuette, Mich. {Porter), N. Minn., 

 and westward. 



* * Glumes and palet aicnless and soft in texture ; reed-like perennials. 



5. E. ni611is, Trin. Culm (3° high) velvety at top; spike thick, erect 

 (8' long) ; spikelets 2 or 3 at each joint, 5-8-flowered : the lanceolate pointed 

 5-7-nerved glumes (I'long) and the pointed flowers soft-vilhms ; rhachis of 

 tlie spikelets separating into joints. — Shore of the (Jreat Lakes, Maine, and 

 northward. (Near E. arenarius.) 



* * * Kmpti] glumes veri/ narrow, and all verg long-awncd ; gpike disarticu- 



lating at maturity. 



6. E. Sit^nion, Schnltes. rx)w (^-2° high), stout; spike 1 -4' long, the 

 peduncle sliglitly exserted ; tiie spreading scabrous awns 2-3' long. — OiUtral 

 Minn, to Kan., and westward. 



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