101) 



as long as the flowering glumes, which aro oblong-lanceolate, seven-nerved, and ob- 

 tuse or notched at the- apex. 



This species grows in Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Mon- 

 tana, Utah, and Colorado. (Plate 111.) 



Melica imperfecta. 



This is oiie of the commonest grasses throughout California, particularly in the 

 southern portion. There are several varieties, which differ considerably in size and 

 general appearance. The culms aro from 1 to 3 feet high, rather slender and wiry, 

 the leaves rather numerous and narrow. The panicle varies from G to 12 inches in 

 length, sometimes narrow, but usually spreading, with rather long and distant 

 branches, which are whorled about in threes of unequal length and numerously 

 flowered. The spikelets have one or two perfect flowers, with a short, club-shaped, 

 imperfect one. The empty glumes are shorter than the ilowers and three to five- 

 nerved, the flowering glume about seven-nerved, usually purplish and acute. It is 

 not bulbiferous. 



The larger forms of this grass certainly deserve trial for culture in 

 California. (Plate 112.^ 



Uniola. 



This genus has closely many-flowered spikelets, usually large, very flat, and two- 

 edged, one or more of the lower flowers consisting only of an empty glume; the 

 empty glumes are closely folded together, keeled, rigid, or coriaceous; the flowering 

 ones are of similar texture, but larger, many-nerved, usually acute and entire, the 

 palet rigid, with the keels narrowly winged. 



Uniola latifolia (Broad Leaved Uniola ; Large-flowered Oat Grass). 



This is a handsome grass, growing 2 to 3 feet high, with very broad 

 leaves and a large spreading panicle. The drooping spikelets are larger 

 than those of any other North American grass, being an inch or more 

 long and half as wide, consisting of ten or twelve Ilowers. 



It grows from Pennsylvania to Kansas and southward. 



Dr. Charles Mohr, Mobile, Ala., says of this grass : 



A fine vernal grass with a rich foliage, blooming early in May; frequently in damp, 

 sandy loam, forming large tufts. This perennial grass is certainly valuable, affording 

 an abundant range early in the season ; if cultivated it would yield largo crops ready 

 for cutting from the 1st of May. It is called by some wild fescue or oat grass. I am 

 not able to judge of its value as a pasture grass. 



(Plate 113.) 



G-lyceria Canadensis (Rattlesnake Grass ; Tall Quaking Grass). 



Of this genus two species have been already described. This species belongs to the 

 northern portion of the United States, usually found in mountainous districts, iu 

 swamps, and river- borders, growing in large tufts. The culms are stout, about 3 

 feet high, smooth and leafy. The leaves are 6 to 9 inches long, the lower ones often 

 twice as long and quite broad. The panicle is large and diffuse, G to i> inches long, 

 the branches long, slender, and drooping. The branches are more or less wliorled, 

 mostly in threes, the largest 3 to 4 inches long, and often subdivided. The spikelet.s 

 are oblong or ovate, rather turgid, usually six to eight-flowered. 



This is quite an ornamental grass. Cattle are fond of it, both green 

 arid when made into hay. It is well adapted to low meadows and yields 

 a large quantity of foliage. 



