ORDER CXLir. (JJiAMIXACK.E. 557 



eheatlis shorter than the joints, with incised stipules. Oiumex unequal, 

 linear-lanceolate, keeled. Palecc lanceolate, 3 — 5-iKTVcd. — U- April 

 — May, Upper Carolina and Georgia. 12 — 18 iiicljcs, 



4. A. pal'lexs, (Muhl.) {Avcna palnstrh, y['w\\.) /SVwi erect, genic- 

 ulate at the base, glabrous. Leaves flat, slightly scabrous, narrow; 

 eheaths glabrous. Glumes compressed, keeled ; the interior valve 

 longest. Palcce 2 ; the exterior double the K-iigth of the interior, bear- 

 ing a short awn on the back. — If. March — April. Wit soils. Com- 

 mon. I — 2 feet. 



5. A. obtusa'ta, (Ell.) Stem erect, glabrous. Leaves flat, somewhat 

 scabrous and hairy ; sheaths hairy. Fan tele racemose. Glumcn 2 — 3- 

 flowered, the exterior one linear, the interior broad, obtuse. Pnle<K 

 nearly equal, the exterior tinged with green, the interior white. — 1(. 

 March — April. Pine-barrens. Couunon. 



6. A. mol'lis, (Muhl.) {Reboulea graeiUs, Kuntlu) Stem slender, 

 glabrous, naked at the summit. Leaves linear, short. Flowers in race- 

 mose panicles, scattered. Glumes with the intei'ior obtuse, the exterior 

 acute. Palece acute, the interior shortest, usually 2clefL — U. April 

 — May. Middle Car. and Geo. Common, 1 — 2 feet. 



Genus XXVI.— AVENA. L. {Oat.) 

 (The Latin name.) 



Glumes 2, 2 — Y-flowered, longer than tlie florets. Palccv bi- 

 laciniate, or with the upper bitid, toothed, with a twisted awn 

 on the back. Seed furrowed. Panicle loose, compound. 



1. A. spica'ta, (L.) {Danthonia spleafa, Ra'ni.) St<:m erect, pu- 

 bescent near the sunuuit. Leaves subulate, small, pubescent; shcuth 

 with the thi-oat bearded, villous. Flowers pnniclod ; spikes racemose, 

 o)) short pedicels. Glumes usually 6-flowered, longir than the spike; 

 margins membranaceous. Palcce 2 ; exterior one lanceolate. viIl«)U!<. the 

 sides terminating in two awns, with the spiral one on the back between 

 them; interior one ciliate.— If . Aj.ril— May. Upper di.nriet.s of Car- 

 olina and Georgia, 1 — 2 feet. 



2. A. Pe\?;sylvan'ic.\, (L.) {Arrhenatherum Prnusi;fvanirum, Torr.) 

 Resembles the preceding, with the exception that the glumes are 2- 

 flowered, and seeds vilhius. — New York to Florida. 



3. A. SATi'vA, (L.) The common oat, the most genernlly cultivated 

 grain in high latitudes. Tliere are numerous varieti.s— in the color of 

 the grain or stem, or in the presence or absence of awns, Ac. 



4. A, nu'da, (L.) Is an oat extensively cultivated in i:uroi>e. which 

 IS easily detached from its covering, and is used on that ;i.'.-..unt <or 

 grinding into meal, and other culinary purposes. 



Genus XXVII.— U'RALEl'IS. Nutt. 

 ^From oura, a tail, and lepis, a scale, in allusion to tlic appearanoo of tho lower p*!o«.) 



Spikelets 2— 3-flowered ; flowers alternate, lonoror than the 

 flumes. Palece unequal, villous on tho margin; Knvcr paloa 

 l-awned, upper one entire, concave. Stamens 1 3, rruit 

 gibbous, stiped. 



