GKAMlNEAl-: (CJKASS FAMILY) 157 



intermediate nerves strong, glabrous. — Fields and meadows throughout the U. S. 

 and B. C. , naturalized in the East, indigenous in the North and \yest. May- 

 July. (Eurasia.) Fig. 160. 



h b. Marginal nei^es glabrous. 



11. P. TRiTiALis L. (Rough-stalked Meadow Grass.) Culms erect from 

 a somewhat decumbent base, 3-9 dm. high, scabrous below the jyanicle ; sheaths 

 and blades retrorsely scabrous, ligule 4-6 mm. long ; panicle 6-15 cm. long, 

 resembhng that of P. pratensis ; spikelets 2-3-tiowered, about 3 mm. long; 

 lemma strongly nerved, silky-pubescent on the keel only. — Moist meadows and 

 roadsides, e. Que. to S. C. and La., rarely inland. May-Aug. (Nat. from Eu.) 



a a. Spikelets fewer, scattered on slender pedicels; plants soft and smooth, 



floicei'ing early. 



b. Spikelets 2-4 mm. long ; lemmas broad, obtuse. 



12. P. sylvestris Gray. Cidms subcompressed, 3-12 dm. high ; sheaths 

 shorter tlian the internodes ; ligule 1 mm. long or less; blades 2-^ mm. u-ide, 

 those of the culm 3-15 cm. long, the basal ones much longer; panicle 1-2 dm. 

 long, oblong-pyramidal, the short flexuous filiform branches spreading or 

 reflexed ; spikelets 2-4-tiowered. 2.5-4 mm. long; first glume 1-, the second 

 3-nerved ; lemmas about 2.5 mm. long, often pubescent below, midiierve pubes- 

 cent to the summit. — Rich woods and thickets, N. Y.to Wis., Neb,, and southw. 

 Apr. -July. 



13. P. debilis Torr. Culms terete, v:eak, 3-10 dm. high ; sheaths compressed, 

 much shorter than the internodes; ligule 1-2 mm. long; blades 2.5-11 cm. 

 long, 2 mm. icide or less (rarely wider) ; panicle nodding. 4-12 cm. long, the feio 

 long capillary branches ascending or spreading at the ends, few-flowered; spike- 

 lets 2-4-flowered, 3-4 mm. long; lemmas glabrous, except the icebbed base. — 

 Rocky woodlands, e. Que. to Ont., southw. to Pa. and la. May, June. 



b b. Spikelets 5-6 mm. long ; lemmas lanceolate, acute. 



14. P. alsodes Gray. Culms 2-6 dm. high ; sheaths thin, the uppermost elon- 

 gated, often sheathing the base of the panicle; blades l.'2-?j dm. long, 2-5 mm. 

 wide; panicle 1-2 dm. long, the filiform branches in 3's or 4's, 

 finally siDreading, or the lowest whorl ascending ; spikelets 2-3- 

 flowered, about 5 mm. long; lemmas faintly nerved, villous on 

 the keel below. — Wooded hillsides and thickets, e. Que. to Minn., 

 and southw. May, June. Fig. 167. 



15. P. W61fii Scribn. Culms slender, 4-9 dm. high ; leaves 

 mostly clustered at the base, 2 mm. vide or less, those of the culms jg- p_ alsodes 

 5-10 cm., long, the basal ones much longer ; panicle 8-15 cm. long ; spikelet x 3 

 the spikelets somewhat clustered toward the ends of the ascending 



capillary branches, 2-4-flowered, 5-6 mm. long ; lemmas strongly nerved, the 

 marginal nerves and midnerve villous. — Minn, and 111. to Tenn., rare. 



b b b. Spikelets 6-8 mm. long; lemmas oblong, conspicuously scarious at the 



obtuse apex; panicle diffuse, few-flowered. 



16. P. autumnalis Muhl. Culms slender, 3-9 dm. high ; leaves 5-12 cm. 

 long. 2-3 mm. wide ; panicle 8-20 cm. long, about as broad, the capillary 

 flexuous spreading branches with a few spikelets near the ends ; spikelets 4-6- 

 flowered, about 6 mm. long ; lemmas pubescent belovj between the strong nerves, 

 not webbed at base. {P. flexuosa Muhl.) — Woods, N. J. and Pa. to ]\Io.. and 

 southw. JVL-ir.-May. 



17. P. brachyphylla Schultes. Culms 3-5 dm. high from running rootstocks, 

 2 -3-leaved ; the upper leaves 1-5 cm. long, the basal oiies about equaling the culm, 

 abruptly cuspidate-tipped; panicle 7-12 cm. long, the branches mostly in pairs, 

 spreading, spikelet-bearing at the ends ; spikelets 3-4-flowere(l ; lemma webbed 

 at base, keel and marginal nerves sparingly pubescent, intermediate nerves 

 prominent, naked. ( P. hrevifolia Muhl.) — Rocky or hilly woodlands. Pa., Va., 

 and sparingly westw. to Ky, and 111. Apr., May. 



