266 GRAMINE^E. Anthomnthum. 



Redwoods of the Coast Range, Bolander, n. 2279. A very robust species, differing in its in- 

 florescence from any large-leaved form of H. borealis that we have seen, and distinguishable from 

 it at once by the greenish color of the panicles, which in that are always brownish. That species, 

 the "Seneca-grass" of the Eastern States, has been found in Washington Territory and Oregon, 

 and is likely to occur within the borders of the State. It may be recognized by the brown color 

 of the spikelets, even when young, its pointed glumes and palets, and its much smaller leaves. 



12. ANTHOXANTHUM, Linn. SWEET VERNAL GRASS. 

 Panicle cylindrical, spike-like. Spikelets 3-flowered, the lateral florets neutral 

 and consisting of a single palet ; the upper or central one perfect. Glumes thin, 

 unequal, the lower smaller, 1-nerved, the upper about twice the length of the lower 

 and 3-nerved. Palet of neutral florets awned. Perfect floret small, of two char- 

 taceous smooth obtuse palets, the upper one 1-nerved. Scales none. Stamens 2, 

 large, linear, yellow. Ovary glabrous : styles long ; stigmas feathery. Grain ovate, 

 enclosed in the palets. 



A perennial genus of three species, which some botanists regard as one, found in temperate re- 

 gions all over the world. Like Hierochloe it gives off a pleasant odor in drying. 



1. A. odoratum, Linn. Culm erect and rather slender, 1 to 2 feet high : leaves 

 flat, hairy ; sheaths often hairy, the ligule short, obtuse : panicle 1 to 5 inches long, 

 interrupted below, often brownish ; spikelets 3 to 4 lines long : neutral palets 

 2-lobed, hairy, one with a bent awn from near the base, the other short-awned below 

 the tip ; the longest awn sometimes protruding beyond the glumes. Trin. Spec. 

 Gram, i, t. 14 ; Keichenb. Icon. Fl. Germ. i. 66, t. 183. 



Meadows, Bolander. A well-known grass, introduced from Europe. It is not regarded as very 

 nutritious, but its presence in meadows is welcomed, as it imparts its odor to other grasses, and is 

 supposed to give a flavor to butter. It flowers in spring, and often again in autumn. 



13. -SIGOPOGON, Willd. GOAT'S-BEARD GRASS. 



Panicle racemose and mostly secund. Spikelets in pairs or threes, one perfect, 

 very shortly pedicelled, often larger than the one or two other longer pedicelled 

 ones, which are staminate or neuter. Glumes equalling or shorter than the floret, 

 with one nerve prolonged beyond the apex as an awn between two lateral shorter 

 awns or teeth. Lower palet of perfect floret 3-nerved, awned at the acute tip or with 

 three awns, the lateral much shorter ; upper palet acute or bearing two short awns. 

 The sterile spikelets similar in structure, but often smaller. Scales 2, minute. Sta- 

 mens 3. Ovary linear-oblong, smooth : stigmas plumose. Grain free. 



A genus of about six small annuals and perennials, natives of South America and Mexico ; they 

 have much the aspect of Cliloridece. 



1. .ZE. cenchroides, Willd. Culms 6 to 12 inches high, slender, decumbent 

 and bent more or less at the nodes : leaves linear, flat, 1 to 2 inches long and less 

 than a line broad, and with the sheaths barely scabrous ; ligule 1| lines long, bitid ; 

 lower sheaths shorter than the internodes : panicle 2 or 3 inches long, slender, loose : 

 spikelets in threes, nearly equal, upon a short scabrous strongly curved or bent ray 

 or branch, all very shortly pedicelled : glumes nearly equal, about half the length of 

 the floret, mostly reddish, scabrous, wedge-shaped, 1-nerved, bitid at apex with a 

 straight awn about its own length between the shorter teeth : palets nearly equal, 

 the lower slightly longer and 3-nerved, the central awn about twice the length of the 

 two lateral ones ; the upper palet with two short seta} between two lobes ; the cen- 

 tral awn to the lower palet of the perfect floret usually longer than the others in the 

 cluster. HBK. Nov. Gen. & Spec. i. 132, t. 42 ; Trin. Agrost. i. 7. 



Sent by Mr. Bolander without locality, and probably introduced from lower down the coast. 

 According to Kunth all three spikelets sometimes have perfect flowers. 



