T2 TRIANDEIA. DIGYWIA* 



^vena spicata, Elliott, p. 174. 



Culm erect, often more than 2 feet higli, nodes distant. 

 Leaves shurt, flat, and subulate, smooth or pubescent oa 

 the under side; sheath very lons^, sometimes Iiau-y: sti- 

 pulcD a nunute, silky fringe, with 2 lateral hairy luf's. 

 Panicle 2 or 3 inches long", branches several, (3 or 4) 2 

 and 3-flowered, Calix striate, scariose (as in Jlvertu), lon- 

 ger than the spikelet. Corolla, dorsal valve oblong-danct o- 

 late, with a long- sijimn^ vdus particularly conspicuous 

 aloni^the margin, terminating' m 2 setaceous points nearly 

 its length, awn coiitoried, and discoloured at the base, 

 more ii)an twice the length of the valve, and (seen through 

 a iens) scabrous; inner valve about half the length of the 

 outer, distmctly ciliate as in Bvomus. 



From Carolina to Florida. Closely allied but very dis- 

 tinct from D. spicata, particularly in the panicle, and the 

 conspicuous silk\ villus of the corolla, as well as the form 

 and ])roporiion of tiie vahes. Tliese 2 species are scarce- 

 ly coiV-T^neys with the Danthonla decumbens; they appear 

 to foi m a distinct genus, ap]:)roximating to Jirojnus. 



Id thiS genus are referred by Decandolle Festuca de- 

 cumbens and Avena calycina, of Europe. 



101. FESTUCA. L. (Fesrue-gi-ass.) 



Calix 2 valvrd, many-ll )\vered. Spikelcts 

 compressed, distirhal, acure at either extremi- 

 ty. Outer valve of the corolla entire, generally 

 terminatin.e; in an awn. ** Seed growing to the 

 cor* lia," Schrader. 



Culm paniculate, rigid, or flpxuose and expanding;, 

 spikelets eiect or nodding; flowers sometimes awnless, 

 niostiy terete, inner valve of the corolla with a smooth 

 margin Nectarium "of 2 ovate-lanceolate acute leaflets, 

 gibbous at their has;", or of 1 rather concave hor'zontal 

 notched leaf,"ScHREEER. Seed oblong, slender, acute at 

 each end, marked wMli a long-i.udinal furrow. 



Species. 1. spicata. Panicle spiked after the manner 

 of Uniola spicata, to which it is nearly related, spikelets 

 rather lari;e, about 5 flowered; glumes of the calix and 

 those of the co'olla in the lower flowers very long, and 

 pungent ly acuminated, but not distinctly awned; valves 

 linea- -lanceolate; leaves very short, and with the whole 

 plant glaucous. On the banks of the Missouri, not afoot 

 high, covering cxtei.sive tracts. 2 tenella. 3. myur^is 4. 

 duviuscula. 5. clatiov. 6. pQbjstachya. ?. diandva. Culm 



