Gymnostichum, GRAMINE^E. 327 



in pairs, 3 several-flowered : glumes linear-lanceolate, 3-5-nerved, pointed or sliort- 

 awned : lower palet 5-nerved and rough above, with an awn about oiice and a half 

 its own length. E. glaucus, JBuckl. in Proc. Phil. Acad. 1862, 99. 



San Francisco, Ukiah, and elsewhere (Bolandcr) ; Oregon (Howcll, Hall and others) ; eastward 

 to Lake Superior. Presents a great variety in size of foliage and spike ; the spike generally more 

 or less curved and soft to the touch, sometimes strict and rough. 



4. E. Canadensis, Linn. Culms stout, 3 to 4 feet high, and with flat rather 

 rough sometimes glaucous leaves : spike 6 to 9 inches long, nodding above, rather 

 loose ; spikelets mostly in pairs, 3 - 5-flowered : glumes subulate, about a line wide 

 at base, 3- or unequally 4-nerved, tapering into an awn somewhat shorter than itself: 

 lower palet rough-hairy, with a longer awn, which is usually spreading. 



Oregon (Pickering, Howcll), eastward to New England ; also New Mexico and Texas. A 

 showy species, especially its glaucous form, var. glaucifolius, which is cultivated for ornament. 



* * * Glumes very long, usually 2-parted to the base, the divisions unequally 2- 

 cleft and long-awned : lower palet lony-awned and 2-toothed, or 3-awned. 

 SITANION. (tiitanion, Rat'.) 



5. E. Sitanion, Schult. Culms densely tufted, from 4 inches to 2 feet high : 

 leaves and sheaths varying from smooth and glaucous to roughly hirsute ; leaves 

 mostly flat, setaceously pungent at apex, the upper one an inch or two long, its 

 sheath loose or often inflated and including the base of the spike, which is 1 to G 

 inches long and soon breaking into joints ; spikelets mostly in pairs, 1 - 5-flowered : 

 glumes sometimes entire, mostly 2-parted to the base, the divisions unequally 2-cleft 

 and terminating in awns 1 to 3 inches long : lower palet 3 lines long, scabrous and 

 5-nerved above, its central awn equalling those of the glumes, its lateral nerves often 

 excurrent as short awns or mere teeth. Roern. & Schult. Mant. ii. 426 ; Watson, 

 Bot. King Exp. 391 ; Thurber in Bot. Wilkes Exped. 495. Sitanion elymoides, Raf. ; 

 Torr. Pacif. R. Rep. iv. 157. ^Egilops Hystrix, Nutt. Gen. i. 86. Polyantherix 

 Hystrix, Nees ; Hook. & Arn. Bot. Beechey, 404. 



Common from Oregon to San Diego, eastward to Northern Minnesota, and southward to Texas 

 and Mexico. The spikes are usually pale green and shining, but sometimes they are reddish ; 

 indeed each locality seems to present a form (littering in stature and smoothness, in the size and 

 color of the spikes, or in the structure of the spikelets. When the glumes are much sub- 

 divided and the divisions are straight, stiff and spreading, or when they are capillary and 

 confusingly intertwisted, the plant appears very unlike an Elymus. On the other hand, the 

 forms in which the glumes are entire present nothing to distinguish them from the genus to which 

 Mr. Watson properly restored it. In a specimen collected in California by Mr. Fitch the glumes 

 are in part subdivided yet again and the elongated and interrupted spike gives it a very different 

 appearance from any others. In the plant from the Rocky Mountains and eastward the tendency 

 is to have more simple and even entire glumes. Several years ago a very full set of the forms was 

 sent to the late General Munro, concerning which that eminent agrostologist wrote : "A valuable 

 series, showing how many species, and even genera, might be made out of this one. " 



62. GYMNOSTICHUM, Schreb. BOTTLE-BRUSH GRASS. 



Inflorescence in a usually very loose spike, the spikelets 2 or 3 or solitary at each 

 joint of the rhachis, spreading horizontally or somewhat appressed. Spikelets 

 1 - 4-flowered on a very short callus-like pedicel (when solitary placed flatwise on 

 the rhachis). Glumes none, or represented by awn-like rudiments which are decidu- 

 ous. Lower palet awned at the tip, otherwise as in Elymus. 



A genus separated from Elymus on account of wanting the glumes. There is one species in the 

 older States, one in New Zealand, and California adds a third. 



1. Gr. Californicum, Bolander. Culm stout, 4 to 6 feet high, with ample sca- 

 brous leaves, ^ to 1 inch wide ; sheaths, at least the lower, with short stiff spreading 

 hairs : spike 6 to 10 inches long, flexuous, interrupted below, dense above ; spike- 

 lets mostly in pairs at the joints, 1 - 3-flowered, on very brief callus-like pedicels, 



