GRASS FAMILY. 



47 



27. HELEOCHLOA Host, Gram. I: 23. pi. * 9 , jo. 1801. 



[CRYPSIS Lam. Tabl. Encycl. i: 166. 1791. Not Ait 1789.] 



Perennial tufted grasses with flat leaves and spicate or paniculate inflorescence. Spike- 

 lets i-flowered. Scales 3; the 2 outer empty, somewhat unequal, membranous acute, cffl- 

 ate-kceled; the third scale similar, a little longer; palct shorter, hyaline, 2 -nerved StattMM 

 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain oblong, free, loosely enclosed in the itVr 

 [Greek, signifying meadow-grass.] 



About 8 species chiefly natives of the Mediterranean region, one or two also widely di*ri 



buted through middle Europe and Asia. 



i. Heleochloa schoenoides (L.) Host. Rush Cat's tail Grass*. i 



im schoenoides L. Sp. PI. 60. 1753. 

 Crvpsis schoenoides L,am. Tabl. Encyl. i: 166. pi. 42. 



1791. 

 Heleochloa schoenoides Host, Gram, i: 23. pi. jo. 1801. 



Glabrous, culms 4 / -i8 / tall, erect or sometimes de- 

 cumbent at the base, branched, smooth. Sheaths 

 about half the length of the internodes, the upper 

 loose, the one immediately below the spike in- 

 flated and usually partially enclosing it; ligule a 

 ring of short hairs; leaves \'-$' long, i // -2 // wide, 

 flat, acuminate, smooth beneath, scabrous above ; 

 spikelets \%" long, the empty scales acute, com- 

 pressed, ciliate-keeled, i-nerved, the lower shorter 

 than the upper ; third scale equalling or longer 

 than the second, acute, compressed, ciliate-keeled, 

 otherwise glabrous, i-nerved; palet shorter, obtuse. 



In waste places, southern New York to Delaware. 

 Naturalized from Europe. July-Aug. 



28. PHLEUM L. Sp. PI. 59. 1753. 



Annual or perennial grasses with flat leaves and spicate inflorescence. Spikelets 

 i-flowered. Scales 3 ; the 2 outer empty, membranous, compressed, keeled, the apex 

 obliquely truncate, the miduerve produced into an awn; the third scale much shorter. 

 broader, hyaline, truncate, denticulate at the summit; palet narrow, hyaline. Stamens J. 

 Styles distinct, somewhat elongated. Stigmas plumose. Grain ovoid, free, enclosed in the 

 scale and palet. [Name Greek, taken from Pliny; originally applied to some very different 

 plant] 



About 10 species, inhabiting the temperate zones of both lu-mi*phiT T!f 

 are natives of North America. The English name Cat's-lail Grass is applied to alt the specie*. 

 Spikes usually elongated, cylindric; awns less than one-half the length of the outer scale*, upper 



sheath not inflated. " /' />ratr*ts 



Spikes not elongated, ovoid to oblong and cylindric; awns about one-half thr Icn. 



scales; upper sheath inflated. 



i. Phleum pratense L. Timothy. Herd's 

 Grass. (Fig. 3.; 



Phleum pratense L. Sp. PI. 59- '753- 



Glabrous and smooth or very nearly so throaghoot. 

 culms i-4 tall, erect, simple. Sheaths usnalh 

 ceeding the internodes, sometimes shorter, the upper 

 one long and not inflated, or very slightly so; ligule 

 i"-2" long, rounded; leaves $'-9' Ion* >de. 



smooth or scabrous; spike usually elongated, 

 i^'-7'in length, 2#"-4" in diameter; outer scale* of 

 the spikelet, exclusive of the awn. i V" l<g. cfliate 

 on the keel, the awn less than half their length. 



In fields and meadows nearly throocnoat N 



ica. Also in Hump*.- and Asia. 



The scales are sometime!* modified mt> 



July-Aug. 



