TRIANDKIA. DIGTNIA. 69 



distichous, valves ventricose, cordate, obtusej 

 interior valve minute. 



Flowers usually in capillary panicles; spiculi, g-enerally 

 nodding- and tremulous. A .trenus nearly allied to Poa. 



Species. 1. ^. Canadensis.-^ viretis? 



There are but 8 species i,i' this g-enus described by 

 Persoon; of which, besides the above, there are in Eu- 

 rope 4 species, 1 in India. 1 at Montevideo, ( South Ame- 

 I'ica^. and 1 confined to the Cape of (iood Hope. Three of 

 the European species are also common to the Cape. 



98. UMOLA. Z. 



Spikelets many-flowered, ovate, compressed, 

 an< ipital. Calix of 3 to 5 glumes. Corolla 2- 

 valved, awnless; ivterior valve smaller. Stam- 

 ina 1 to 3. wYedariujn 2 leaved, emariiinate. 

 Stigmuta long, muricate. Seed ovate, com- 

 pressed. 



Panicle various; in U. Spicata nearly a simple raceme* 

 in U. latifoUa the spiculi are very lavj^-e and trenu)lous» 

 as in the European species o^ Briza; in the U gracilis ihe 

 spikeh ts are onl\ 3-flowered, in the other species the 

 spiculi have 7 to 10 flowers, in U spicata sometimes as 

 many as 15, and the corolla glm^.ts often numerously 

 nerved This g-enus, apparendy intermediate betwixt 

 JPoa and Festnca^ is readily distinguished by its large, 

 flat spikelet--, antl abortive flowers, both at the base and 

 extremity of the spike, hence described as having a calix 

 of more than 2 valves;- though in the U. spicata, referred 

 to Festiica by Michaux, there is seldom more than that 



f Culm erect, thick and leaf\ . Leaves flat, attenuated, from 

 6 to 12 inches ionar, smooth; stipula truncate. Panicle semiver- 

 ticillate, rather Knig-, loose, and erect, branches decompound, 

 eoarctate, racemiform; pedicells capillary, flcxuose. Spiculi 

 cunnate-ovul, obtuse, 4 to 6-flowered. (alix very small, nerve- 

 less. Flosculi lurgid obovaie, prominentlv 7-nerved, terete, 

 sometimes purplish at the point; inner valve concave, flat, larg-e 

 as the outer, with an indurated nerved margin, inflected, and 

 extended a little beyond tlie edg-e of the outer valve; nerves 

 somewhat scabrous. Stam.ens generally 2i not exserted? Styles 

 short; stigmata plumose. 



Hab. In Canada and Pennsylvania. Scarcely belong"ing to 

 this g'enus; apparently couneciing Poa and Briza. 



