16 THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 



2g f Glumes very unequal in length PANICUM. 



{ Glumes equal in length or nearly so 29 



2g j Stems of the flowers, within the glumes, hairy 30 



{ Stems of the flowers not hairy 31 



OQ f Hairs as long as the flowers or nearly so PHRAGMITES. 



"[ Hairs much shorter than the flowers. . . GRAPHEPHORUM. 



01 J Spikelets much flattened BRIZOPYRUM. 



{ Spikelets only slightly flattened 32 



2 f Outer glumes longer than the flowering glume . . PHALARIS. 

 (_ Outer glumes equal to, or shorter than the flowering glumes, 33 



OQ | Flowering glume from five to seven nerved GLYCERIA. 



( Flowering glume from one to five nerved POA. 



o . | Stem with only one spike. . . 

 \ Stem with more than one spik 



35 



e .. ..37 



or- ( Spikelets arranged alternately on each side 36 



( Spikelets not arranged alternately ELYMUS. 



0,6 f Spikelets with only one glume LOLIUM. 



( Spikelets with two glumes TRITJCUM. 



^ f Glumes present 38 



{ Glumes wanting GYMNOSTICHIUM. 



on f Spikes slender, terminal CYNODON. 



| Spikes somewhat globose, terminal and lateral . . . .DACTYLIS. 



Family GU AMINES. (Grass Family.) 



Genus LEERSIA, Solander. 

 Le-er'-si-a. 



Named in honor of J. D. Leers, a German botanist. 



The spikelets are one-flowered without lower glumes, and more or 

 less crowded into one-sided, panicled spikes, in which they overlap 

 each other more or less. The flowering glume is of the texture of 

 paper, strongly flattened, awnless and with minute sharp bristles 

 along the keels. The palea is of about the same length as the 

 flowering glume, but not more than half as wide, and similarly beset 

 with minute bristles. Only one species of this genus has as yet 

 been reported in this State. 



