GRAMINE^E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 627 



rootstocks ; the spikelets panicled. (Name from yXviccpos, sweet, in allusion to 

 the taste of the grain.) 



1. GLYCERIA proper. Lower palet conspicuously nerved: styles present: 

 plumes of the stigma branched or toothed : grain grooved on the inner side : 

 leaves flat, the sheaths nearly entire. 



* Spikelets ovate, oblong, or linear-oblong, \" -3" in length, 

 H- At length nodding in an open panicle, Jlattish laterally but turgid. 



1. G. Canad^nsis, Trin. (RATTLESNAKE-GRASS.) Panicle oblong- 

 pyramidal, at length drooping ; spikelets ovate, at length very broad and tu- 

 mid, Briza-like, 2" long, pale, with purplish glumes ; lower palet acute or blunt- 

 pointed, tirm, with not very prominent nerves, longer than the rounded upper 

 one; culm stout, 2 -3 high; leaves long, roughish. (Briza Canadensis, 

 Michx.) Bogs and wet places : common from Penn. northward. July. 



<- - Erect in a narrow contracted panicle, somewhat flattened and turgid. 



2. G. Obttisa, Trin. Panicle narrowly oblong, dense ; (3 f -5'long); spike- 

 lets 6 - 7-flowered ; 2" -3' long; lower palet obtuse; culm stout, l-2 high, 

 very leafy; leaves long, smooth. (Poa obtusa, Muhl.) Bogs, E. New Eng- 

 land to Penn., near the coast. 



3. G. elongata, Trin. Panicle narrowly racemose, elongated (1 long), 

 recurving ; the branches and 3 - 4-flowered spikelets appressed ; lower palet ob- 

 tuse; leaves very long (1 or more), rough. (Poa elongata, Torr.) Wet 

 woods, New England to Michigan, and northward. July -Aug. 



-i- -i- )- Diffuse : lower palet truncate-obtuse, prominently 1 -nerved ; upper 2-toothed. 



4. G. nervata, Trin. (FOWL-MEADOW GRASS, in part.) Branches of 

 the loose panicle capillary, at length drooping, the very numerous small spikelets 

 ovate-oblong, 3 - 7-flowered ; leaves rather long. (Poa nervata, Willd. P. stri- 

 ata, Michx. P. parviflora, Pursh.) Moist meadows : very common. June. 



Culm erect, l-3 high. Spikelets 1" - 2" long, commonly purplish. 



5. G. pallida, Trin. Branches of the rather simple panicle slender, erect- 

 spreading, rough ; the spikelets usually few, somewhat appressed, oblong-linear, 5 - 9- 

 flowered (pale, 2'' 3" long) ; lower palet minutely 5-toothed ; the upper lanceolate, 

 conspicuously 2-toothed ; leaves short, sharp-pointed, pale. (Windsoria pallida 

 & Poa dentata, Torr.) Shallow water : common, especially northward. July. , 



Culms slender, l-3 long, ascending from a creeping base. 



6. G. aquatica, Smith. (REED MEADOW-GRASS.) Panicle much branched, 

 ample (8' 15' long) ; the numerous branches ascending, spreading with age; spikelets 

 oblong or linear-oblong, 5-9-flowered (usually purplish, 2" -3" long) ; lower palet 

 entire ; leaves large (1 - 2 long, ' to ' wide. Wet grounds : common north- 

 ward. July. Culm stout, upright, 3 - 5 high. (Eu.) 



* # Spikdets linear ('-!' long), pale, appressed on the branches of the long and 

 narrow racemose panicle, terete except during anthesis : palets minutely roughish, 

 the upper 2-toothed : squamnlce unilateral or united : ligule long : culm fattened 

 (l-5 high), ascending from a rooting base. (Glyceria, R. Br.) 



7. G. fltlitans, R. Br. Spikelets 7 -13-flowered; lower palet oblong, obtuse, 

 or the scarious tip acutish, entire or obscurely 3-lobed, usually rather longer 



