Fescue Tribe 47 



the panicles short, divergent or reflexed; spikelets smaller than 

 in the species ; the outer glumes shorter and more obtuse. 

 San Fernando Mountains, near Chatsworth Park. 



4. M. imperfecta refracta Thurb. Densely velvety-pubescent 

 throughout; panicle slender, flexuous, its branches few, distant, 

 strongly refracted ; spikelets very acute. 

 Santa Monica, Davidson. 



30. DISTICHLIS Raf. SALT-GRASS. 



Dioecious grasses of saline or maritime habit with 

 rigid culms, creeping or decumbent at the base, flat or 

 convolute leaves and spike-like paniculate inflorescence. 

 Spikelets flattened more on the staminate plants than on 

 the pistillate. Two outer glumes empty, narrow, keeled, 

 acute ; flowering glumes longer than the empty ones, 

 many-nerved, acute, rigid ; palea 2-keeled. Stamens 3. 

 Styles thickened at the base, rather long, distinct. 

 Grain free, enclosed in the glume and palea. 



1. D. spicata (L.) Greene. (SALT-GRASS.) Culms rather stout, 

 from creeping scaly rootstocks, rigid, erect, 1-5 dm. high; sheaths 

 numerous, glabrous, bearded at the throat; blades pale green, 

 3-10 cm. long, 3 mm. wide at base, spreading, rigid, margins 

 minutely ciliate; panicle spike-like, 3-8 cm. long, its branches ap- 

 pressed; spikelets 8-12 mm. long, keeled; empty glumes obtuse, 

 first 2-3 mm. long, second 4 mm. long ; flowering glume of sterile 

 spikelets 3-5 mm. long, of fertile spikelets 5-6 mm. long. 



Very common in low subsaline places along the coast and in our interior 

 valleys. 



31. DACTYLIS L. ORCHARD-GRASS. 



A tall perennial grass with flat leaves and paniculate 

 inflorescence. Spikelets 3-5-flowered, short pedicelled, 

 in dense capitate clusters. Flowers perfect or the upper 

 staminate. The 2 outer empty glumes thin membran- 

 ous, unequal, keeled, mucronate ; flowering glumes larger 

 than the empty ones, rigid, 5-nerved, keeled, the mid- 

 nerve extended into a point or short awn. Palea shorter 



