24 POACEAE. 



crowded, 2.5 mm. long ; scales 1 -nerved, acute. M. Kather rare, in waste 

 places. Nat. of Eu. Sum. 



21. PHLETJM L. Annual or perennial grasses, with flat leaf -blades and 

 terminal, often long-pedunculate, dense spike-like panicles, which are from 

 elongate, narrow and cylindric, to short, oblong or nearly ovoid. Spikelets 

 crowded, 1-flowered, compressed. Scales 3, the 2 outer empty, persistent, mem- 

 branous, compressed-keeled, obliquely truncate at the summit, awned, the third 

 scale much shorter, hyaline, truncate and denticulate at the apex, enclosing a 

 narrow palet of similar texture and a perfect flower. Stamens 3. Styles dis- 

 tinct, rather long. Stigmas plumose. 



1. P. pratense L. Stems 3-12 dm. tall: leaf -blades 7-23 cm. long, 4-6 mm. 

 wide: spike cylindric, 3-18 cm. long, 5-8 mm. in diameter: empty scales of the 

 spikelet, exclusive of the awn, 2.5 mm. long, the awn less than | their length. 

 Common, in fields and on roadsides. Sum. TIMOTHY. 



22. ALOPECTTRUS L. Annual or perennial grasses, erect, or decumbent 

 at the base, with flat and lax or rather rigid or convolute leaf -blades, and dense 

 terminal spike-like cylindric panicles. Spikelets articulated below the empty 

 scales, readily deciduous, 1-flowered, compressed, crowded. Scales 3, the 2 

 outer empty, acute, sometimes short-awned, usually more or less united at the 

 base, compressed-keeled, the keel ciliolate or somewhat winged, the third scale 

 broad, hyaline, obtuse, bearing a short awn or point on the back, the margins 

 sometimes united into a short tube at the base, enclosing a perfect flower and 

 sometimes also a hyaline keeled palet. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, or rarely 

 more or less united at the base. Stigmas elongate, somewhat plumose with 

 short hairs. 



1. A. myosuroides Huds. Stems 3-6 dm. tall: leaf -blades 4-18 cm. long, 2-6 

 mm. wide: spike 4-10 cm. long, 4-8 mm. in diameter: empty scales of the 

 spikelet narrowly winged, 4-5 mm. long, the flowering scale equalling or slightly 

 exceeding the empty ones, the awn inserted near the base and about twice its 

 length, bent. S. Eare, in fields near Pleasant Grove. Nat. of Eu. Sum. 

 FOXTAIL. 



23. SPOROBOLUS E. Br. Perennial or rarely annual grasses, varying 

 much in habit, with flat or convolute leaf -blades and terminal panicles, which 

 are contracted, sometimes cylindric and spike-like, often elongate, or open and 

 diffuse. Spikelets small, sometimes minute, 1-flowered, or very rarely 24- 

 flowered. Scales 3, rarely 4-6, membranous, acute or obtuse, rarely awn- 

 pointed or short-awned, the 2 outer empty, the first shorter than the second, 

 the remaining scale or scales longer or about equalling the second scale, enclos- 

 ing a perfect flower, and a 2-nerved, often deeply 2-cleft or 2-parted, palet 

 which is equal in length to, or a little shorter than, the scale, rarely awned and 

 exceeding it. Stamens 2 or 3. Styles short, distinct. Stigmas plumose. Sum. 

 and fall. EUSH-GRASS. DROPSEED. 



Upper leaf-sheaths enclosing panicles which are usually concealed or sometimes 

 partially protruding : terminal panicle contracted, narrow. 1. 8. clandestinus. 



Flowering scale appressed-pubescent below with long hairs. 



Flowering scale glabrous. 2. S. asper. 



Upper leaf-sheaths not enclosing panicles. 3. S. heterolepis. 



1. S. clandestinus (Sprang.) A. Hitchc. Stems 6-12 dm. tall: leaf -blades 7-35 

 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, attenuate into a long slender involute tip : panicle 5-13 



