58 



all of which are nutritious grasses, but seldom occurring in sufficient 

 quantity to be particularly important. (Plate G3.) 



ELEUSINE. 



Spikes two to five or more, finger-like, at the summit of the culm, sometimes a few 

 scattering ones lower down ; spikelets sessile and crowded along one side of the 

 rhacliis; two to six (ormore)-flowered, the uppermost flowers imperfect or rudimentary ; 

 outer glumes membranaceous, shorter than the spikelet; flowering glumes usually 

 obtuse ; palet folded, two-keeled. 



Eleusine Indica (Yard Grass; Crow-foot; Crab Grass; Wire Grass). 



The culms are from 1 to 3 feet high, usually coarse and thick, and very ^eafy, es- 

 pecially below. The leaves are long and rather wide. At the top of the culm there are 

 two to five or more thickish densely-flowered spikes proceeding from a common point, 

 with sometimes one or two scattering ones lower down on the clum. The spikelets 

 are sessile and crowded along one side of the axis, each being from two to six-flow- 

 ered, the upper flower imperfect or rudimentary ; the outer glumes are membranaceous, 

 shorter than the flowers, the flowering glumes usually obtuse ; the palet folded and 

 two-keeled. 



An annual grass belonging to tropical countries, but now naturalized 

 in most temperate climates. In the Southern States it is found in 

 every door-yard and in all waste places. 



Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says : 



The clumps have many long leaves and stems rising 1 or 2 feet high, and many 

 long, strong, deeply-penetrating, fibrous roots. It grows readily in door-yards, barn- 

 yards, and rich, cultivated grounds, and produces an immense quantity of seeds. It is 

 a very nutritious grass, and good for grazing, soiling, and hay. The succulent lower 

 part of the stems, covered with the sheaths of the -leaves, render it difficult to cure 

 well, for which several days are required. It may be cut two or three times, and 

 yields a large quantity of hay. 



(Plate 64.) 



Eleusine .Slgyptiaca (Crow-foot.) 



Two species of grass in the Southern States have received the name 

 of crow-foot, viz : Eleusine Indica and Eleusine JEgyptiaca, or, as it is 

 sometimes called, Dactyloctenium ^Egyptiacum. Dr. IT. W. Kavenel, of 

 Aikeu, S. C., states that in the lower and middle portions of that State 

 the name of goose grass is generally applied to the former, while the 

 latter is universally called crow foot. E. Indica, lie says, is confined 

 to rich waste places and old yards and gardens, and is rarely or never 

 seen in ordinary cultivated fields, and is never used for hay, because 

 it is found only in tufts and sparsely, whilst E. AVgyptiaca, is as abun- 

 dant as crab grass (Panicum sanguinale) in all cultivated fields, and it 

 is commonly used for hay. 



This is avi important distinction, which ought to be generally known 

 and noticed in our popular account of these grasses. (Plate 05.) 



