THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 49 



Genus HORDEUM, Linneus. 

 llor'-de-um. 



The ancient Latin name for barley. 4 



Flowers arranged in a dense spike with two or three spikelets at 

 each joint of the notched rhachis ; spikelets one-flowered, with an 

 awl-shaped rudiment of a second flower, the central spikelet of the 

 cluster perfect and sessile, the lateral ones short-stalked and imper- 

 fect or abortive ; glumes slender and bristle-form. Stamens three. 



52. IIoKDKIJM JUllATIJM, LillllCUS. 



Iloi'-de- a m ju -ba'-tum . 



Common Name. Squirrel-Tail Grass. 



Annual. Stems ciect, from four to ten inches high; perfect 

 flowers bearing awns two indies long, about the same length as the 

 similar glumes, all spreading. 



This worthless grass is common in marshes and moist sand of the 

 sea shore. 



Genus KLY.MCS, Linneus. 

 El'-y-wivs. 



From the Greek e'unnM. a kind of grain. 



Spikelets from Uvu to four at each joint of the rhachis of the 

 simple stout spike, sessile, from one to six-flowered ; glumes two 

 for each spikelet, nearly side by side in its front, forming a kind of 

 involucre for the cluster, narrow, rigid, from one to three-nerved, 

 acuminate or awned ; flowering glume herbaceous, rather shorter, 

 oblong or lanceolate, rounded on the back, not keeled, acute or 

 awncd ; palea shorter, two-keeled. Three species occur in Maine, 

 which may be separated as follows : 



Flowers and glumes without awns E. Mollis. 



Flowers and glumes, one or both, with awns 2 



( Spikes, two to three inches long, upright, partly enclosed in 



2 J the upper sheath E. Virgitiicus. 



*j Spikes, five to nine inches long*, nodding, not enclosed in the 

 ^ upper sheath E. Canadensis. 



