GRAMINEAE (GRASS FAMILY) 



137 



1.5-3 dm. long, the slender branches ascending, somewhat contracted after 

 flowering ; spikelets 5 mm. long ; glumes scabrous, unequal, the second as long 

 as the scabrous lemma which bears a minute awn or is 

 sometimes awnless ; palea 1-nerved. — Moist woods and 

 shaded swamps ; N. S. to Ont. and southw. Aug. , Sept. 

 Fig. 113. 



2. C. latifblia (Trev.) Griseb. Similar to the preced- 

 ing ; blades 1.5-2.5 dm. long, 1-1.5 cm. loide, rarely nar- 

 rower, scabrous; panicle 1.5-3.5 dm. long, the flexuous 

 capillary branches spreading or drooping; spikelets 4 mm. 

 long; glumes scabrous, subequal, and about equaling the 

 scabrous short-awned lemma ; palea 2-nerved., the nerves 

 close together. (C. pendula Trin.) — Damp woods, Nfd. to B. C, s. to N. E., 

 N. Y., the Great Lake region, and westw.; also on mts. of N. C. (Eu.) 



llo. C. aruudinacea. 

 Spikelets x 2i4- 



114. A. caiyophyllea. 

 Spikelet x 3. 

 Flower x 4l^. 



39. AIRA L. Hair Grass 



Spikelets 2-flowered, both flowers perfect ; glumes thin, somewhat scarious, 

 subequal, acute, awnless, longer than the approximate florets ; lemmas bidentate, 

 awned on the back or the lower awnless ; palea a little shorter than the lemma ; 

 grain included in the slightly indurated lemma and palea, and usually adherent 

 to them. — Delicate annuals. (An ancient Greek name for Darnel.) 



1. A. CARYOPHYLLtA L. Culuis soHtary or few, slender, erect, 8-30 cm. high ; 

 blades short, setaceous : panicle open, the silvery shining spikelets clustered 



toward the ends of the spreading capillaini branches., 3 mm. 

 long, nearly as broad ; lemma of both florets icith a geniculate 

 aicn 3-4 mm. long from below the middle., the teeth of the apex 

 setaceous. — Waste places, Nantucket to O., and southw. 

 June. (Nat. from Eu. ) Fig. 114. 



2. A. capillXris Host. Similar to the preceding ; panicle 

 more diffuse ; spikelets scattered at the ends of the branches., 

 2.5 mm. long ; lemma of loioer floret dvmless or with a minute 

 awn just below the apex., the teeth of which are short ; lemma 

 of upper floret bearing a geniculate awn 3 mm. long from below the middle, teeth 

 of apex setaceous. — On the coast, Va., and southw. May, June. (Nat. from Eu.) 

 3. A. PRAEcox L. Culms tufted, 0.5-20 cm. high, slender, erect or lower 

 nodes geniculate ; sheaths slightly inflated ; blades setaceous ; paiiicle narrow 

 and dense, the short branches erect., 1-3 cm. long ; spikelets yellowish, shining, 

 3.5-4 mm. long ; lemmas of both florets bidentate at apex, and bearing a genicu- 

 late awn 2-4 mm. long from below the middle, the awn of lower floret shorter 

 than that of the upper. — Sandy fields, N. J. and Del. to Va. May-July. (Nat. 

 from Eu.) 



40. HOLCUS L. 



Spikelets 2-flowered, articulated below the glumes ; the lower floret perfect, 

 rai.sed on a curved stipe, awnless ; the upper floret staminate (rarely perfect), 

 its lemma bearing a dorsal awn from below the apex ; glumes 

 thin, subequal, compressed, boat-shaped, longer than the 

 florets ; lemmas somewhat indurated, boat-shaped ; paleas 

 thin, nearly as long as the lemmas. — Perennials with flat 

 leaves and densely flowered terminal panicles. (A name used 

 by Pliny for a kind of grass, from 6X/c6s, attractive.) 



H. lan.\tus L. (Velvet Grass.) Entire plant grayish., 

 velvety-pubescent; culms erect, 3-6 dm. high; leaves" 15 cm. 

 long or less, rarely longer, 5-10 mm. wide ; panicle purplish, 

 5-10 cm. long, narrow ; spikelets 4 mm. long, nearly as broad ; 

 glumes villous, hirsute on the nerves, the second broader than 

 the flr.st, 3-nerved ; lemmas ciliate at the apex ; awn of second 



115. H. lanatus. 

 Sjnkelet x sy,. 

 Same opened x 2%. 



floret hooklike. 

 (Nat. from Eu.) 



Moist meadows, N. S. 

 Fig. 115. 



to 111., and southw. June, July. 



