160 DACTYLOCTEmUM. ELEUSIKE. 



22. D ACT YLOCTENTUM Wild. 



GEASS. 

 GEj^EEIC CHAEACTEE. 



Spikelets several-flowered, with the uppermost flow- 

 er imperfect, crowded on one side of a flatened rha- 

 chis, forming dense pectinate spikes, 2 to 5 in num- 

 ber, digitate at the summit of the culm. Glumes 

 compressed laterally and keeled, membranaceous, 

 the upper (exterior) one awn -pointed. Lower palet 

 strongly keeled and boat-shaped, pointed. Stamens 

 3. Pericarp a .thin utricle, containing a loose globu- 

 lar and rough- wrinkled seed. Root annual. Culms 

 diffuse, often creeping at the base. 



Name compounded vidaktylos, finger, an&lctenion, 

 a, little comb, alluding to the digitate and pectinate 

 spikes. 



1. D.Egyptiacum (Egyptian Grass). A troublesome 

 weed. 



23 ELEUSINE Gsertn. CEAB GEASS, YAED 



GEASS. 



GESTEEIC CHAEACTEE. 



Spikelets 2 to 6 flowered, with a terminal naked 

 rudiment, closely imbricate- spiked on one side of a 

 flattish rhachis ; the spikes digitate. Glumes mem- 

 branaceous, pointless, shorter than the flowers. Pa- 

 lets awnless and pointless ; the lower ovate, keeled, 

 larger than the upper. Stamens 3. Pericarp (utricle) 



