178 UNIOLA. 



in the genus, but as yet its properties are not suffi- 

 ciently known. Leaves long, slender, and pendu- 

 lous. 



39. UNIOLA Linn. SPIKE GRASS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Spikelets closely many flowered, very flat and 2- 

 edged, one or more of the lower flowers sterile 

 (neutral) and consisting of a single palet ; glumes 

 lanceolate, compressed-keeled. Lower palet coriaceo- 

 membranaceous, strongly laterally compressed and 

 keeled, striate-nerved, usually acute or pointed, en- 

 tire, enclosing the much smaller compressed 2-keeled 

 upper one and the free laterally flattened smooth grain 

 Stamens 1 (or in U. Panticulata 3). Upright smooth 

 perennials, growing in tufts from strong creeping 

 rootstocks, with broad leaves and large spikelets in 

 an open or spiked panicle. 



An ancient name of some plant, a diminutive of 

 iO) unity. 



1. U. Paniculata (Spike grass). Sand hills, sea- 

 shore, S. Virginia and southward. 



2. U, Latifolia (Broad Leaved Spike grass). Shaded 

 rich hill sides, S. Pennsylvania to Illinois, and south- 

 ward. 



3. U. Gracilis (Slender spike grass). Sandy soil 

 from Long Island to Virginia, near the coast and 

 southward. Flowers in August ; stem three feet 

 high. 



