GRAMINE^E. 319 



10. Bromus. Spikelets 5-15-flowered, panicled. Glumes unequal, 

 shorter than the flower, nerved. Lower palea convex, with an awn pro- 

 ceeding from below the tip. Upper palea convolute, adhering to the 

 caryopsis at the groove. Stamens 3. 



B. SECALINUS (Chess). Culm smooth, erect; leaves flat, rough above, 

 wivh margins and sheaths smooth ; panicle spreading, with branches nearly 

 simple, drooping ; spikelets ovate, cylindrical, tumid, smooth, about lo-flow- 

 ered ; awn of the lower palea usually shorter than the spikelet. Trouble- 

 some in wheat-fields, 2-3 feet high. June. 



11. Pragmites. Spikelets 3-8-flowered. Flowers with tufts of 

 white, silky hairs at base. Lower flower either neutral, or with a single 

 stamen ; the others perfect with 3 stamens. Glumes 2, shorter than the 

 flowers, very unequal. Lower palea twice as long as the upper, y. 



P. COMMUNIS (Water Reed). Culm erect, smooth, very stout; leaves 

 very long, broad-lanceolate, glaucous ; panicle very large, loosely branched, 

 at length diffuse ; branches in half whorls, erect, spreading, slender ; spike- 

 lets 3-5-flowered, erect. On the borders of ponds and streams, 6-10 feet 

 high. July- August. 



12. Triticum. Spikelets 3-8-flowered, spicate, each attached to a 

 separate joint of the rachis. Glumes 2. nearly equal, opposite, ovate. 

 Palese 2 ; lower one awned or mucronate ; upper compressed. Sta- 

 mens 3. 



1. T. VULGARE (Wheat). Culm erect, terete, smooth; leaves linear, 

 somewhat rough above ; spike somewhat 4-sided ; spikelets crowded, about 

 4-flowered ; glumes ventricose ; awns longer than the flower. The most 

 valuable species of grain cultivated. June. 



2. T. REPENS (Couch Grass). Culm erect, arising from a creeping rhi- 

 zoma ; leaves linear-lanceolate, somewhat rough or hairy above ; spike com- 

 pressed ; spikelets remote, alternate, 4-8-flowered ; glumes 5-y-veined, lan- 

 ceolate. A weed in gardens. June- August, 



13. Secale. Spikelets 2-3-flowered, spicate, each attached to a 

 single point of the rachis ; lower flowers sessile and opposite ; upper 

 often abortive. Glumes opposite, shorter than the flowers. Lower 

 palea ciliate on the keel and margin, tipped with a very long awn. 



S. CERE ALE (Rye). Culm tall, erect, slender, hairy below the spike ; 

 leaves rough above and on the margin, glaucous ; spike long, compressed ; 

 awns long and straight. A valuable grain, 3-6 feet high. Jtine. 



14. Elymus. Spikelets 2-6-flowered, attached, 2-4 together at 

 each joint of the rachis. Glumes 2, side by side, and not opposite, 

 nearly equal, subulate. Lower palea convex on the back, mostly awned 

 at apex. if 



E. VIRGINICUS ( Wild Rye). Culm erect, stout, smooth; leaves broad- 

 linear, rough, deep green ; spike erect, rigid, thick, on a short peduncle ; 



