, g| 



GRASS FAMILY. 



54. BECKMANNIA Host, Gram. Austr. 3:5. pi. 6. ,805 

 A tall erect grass with flat leaves and erect spikes borne in a terminal panicle Soik*- 

 lets i-2-flowered, globose, compressed. Scales 3 or 4; the * lower empty, mem 

 cate, obtuse or abruptly acute; the flowering scales narrow, tbin membranoar palet hrJlI 

 2 -keeled. Stamens 3. Styles distinct Stigmas plumose. Grain oblong 





. , 



itSt C peterebur \ of Johann Beckmann, i 7 3*-i8u, teacher of NaiiiralllSory 



A monotypic genus of the north temperate zone. 



i. Beckmannia erucaeformis (L. ) Host. 

 Beckmannia. (Fig. 414.) 



Phalaris erucaeformis L,. Sp. PI. 55. 1753. 

 Beckmannia erucaeformis Host, Gram. Austr. 3: 5. 



1805. 

 Beckmannia erucaeformis var. uniflora Scribn 



Wats. & Coult. in A. Gray, Man. Ed. 6, 628. 1890. ' 



Glabrous, culms i>^ -3 tall, erect, simple, 

 smooth. Sheaths longer than the internodes, 

 loose; ligule 2 // -4 // long; leaves 3'-o/ long, i"-$" 

 wide, rough; panicle 4 / -io / in length, simple or 

 compound, the spikes about y z f long; spikelets 

 \' f -\W long, i-2-flowered, closely imbricated in 

 two rows on one side of the rachis; scales smooth, 

 the outer saccate, obtuse or abruptly acute; flower- 

 ing scales acute, the lower generally awn-pointed, 

 the upper rarely present. 



In wet places, western Ontario to British Columbia, 

 south to Iowa, Colorado and California. July-Sept. 



55. ELEUSINE Gaertn. Fruct. & Sem. i: 7. //. /. 1788. 



Tufted annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaves and spicate inflorescence, the spikes 

 digitate or close together at the summit of the culm. Spikelets several- flowered, sessile. 

 closely imbricated in two rows on one side of the rachis, which is not extended beyond then; 

 flowers perfect or the upper stamiuate. Scales compressed, keeled; the a lower empty; the 

 others subtending flowers, or the upper empty. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plu- 

 mose. Grain loosely enclosed in the scale and palet. [From the Greek name of the town 

 where Ceres was worshipped.] 



Species 6, natives of the Old World. Besides the following, two other* have been found in 



ballast fillings about the eastern seaports. 



i. Eleusine Indica (L.) Gaertn. \V 

 grass. Crab-grass. Yard-grass. 



(Fig. 415.) 



Cynosurus Indicus L. Sp. PI. 7- '753- 



Eleusine Indica Gaertn. Fruct 1 17*. 



Culms 6 / -2 tall, tufted, erect, or decumbent at the 

 base, smooth and glabrous. Sheaths loose, overlap- 

 ping and often short and crowded at the bae of tk* 

 culm, glabrous or sometimes sparingly vilk>n; Ufa)* 

 very short; leaves 3'- 12' lon K * ><*. smooth or 



scabrous; spikes 2-10, i'~3' long, whorled or approxi- 

 mate at the summit of the culm or one or two one- 

 times distant; spikelets 3-6-flowere<! 

 scales acute, minutely scabrous on the keel, the first 

 i-nerved, the second 3-7-nerved, the others 3-s-ocmd. 



In fields, dooryards and wate pUcc. all _ 

 America except the extreme north Natnraliaed 

 warmer regions of the < >U1 World. JUIK 



