GBAMINE^E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 427 



and Oregon eastward into the Mississippi Valley; introduced on the Atlantic 



coast. 



2. H. jubatum, L. Stems 1 to 2 feet high, usually smooth throughout, 

 the margins of the leaves sometimes scabrous : spike very pale green or straw- 

 color, shining, sometimes purplish, 2 to 4 inches long, broader, the very slender 

 rhachis readily separating; lateral floret short-awned: glumes vert) long and 

 capillary : perfect floret 3 lines long, with an awn 2 inches long, longer than the 

 glumes and spreading. Common westward and northward, extending east- 

 ward through the Northern States. Known as " Squirrel-tail Grass." 



48. ELYMUS, L. LYME GRASS. WILD RYE. 



* Outer glumes subulate-setaceous, shorter than the spikelet: flowering glume 



merely cuspidate. 



1. E. COndensatus, Presl. Stems 2 to 6 feet high or more, with ample 

 mostly flat leaves, smooth except on the margins: spike 5 to 15 inches long, 

 dense or interrupted, simple or frequently made up of fascicled short few- 

 flowered branches ; spikelets 3 to 6-flowered : flowering glume 5-nerved above, 

 mucronate-pointed or somewhat 3-toothed. From Colorado and Nevada to 

 California and Oregon. 



* * Outer glumes acuminate-pointed or aivned: flowering glume with an awn longer 



than itself. 



2. E. Sibiricus, L. Stems 2 to 3 feet high : leaves mostly ample, often 

 6 lines broad, glabrous or partly scabrous : spike virgate, 2 to 8 inches long, 

 often somewhat nodding above ; spikelets in pairs, 3 to several-flowered : 

 glumes linear-lanceolate, 3 to 5-nerved, pointed or short-awned: flowering glume 

 5-nerved and rough above, with an awn about 1^ times its own length. From 

 California and Oregon to Lake Superior. 



3. E. Canadensis, L. Like the last, but stouter and taller: leaves 

 rougher, sometimes glaucous : spikes stouter, somewhat loose and more nod- 

 ding above : outer glumes subulate, 3 or perhaps 4-nerved, tapering into an awn 

 shorter than itself: flowering glume rough-hairy, with a longer usually spreading 

 awn. Across the continent. 



* * * Outer glumes very long, usually 2-parted to the base, the divisions un- 



equally 2-cleft and long-awned : flowering glumes long-awned and 2-toothed, 

 or 3-awned. 



4. E. Sitanion, Schult. Stems densely tufted, J to 2 feet high: leaves 

 and sheaths from smooth and glaucous to roughly hirsute ; leaves setaceously 

 pungent at apex, the upper one an inch or two long, its sheath often loose and 

 including the base of the spike : spike 1 to G inches long ; spikelets 1 to 

 5-flowered : awns of the outer glumes 1 to 3 inches long : flowering glume 

 3 lines long, its central awn equalling those of the glumes. From Minnesota 

 to Texas and westward across the continent. Exceedingly variable, so much 

 so that the collector is apt to discover at least a " new variety " in almost every 

 locality. 



