Illustrated Descriptions of the Grasses 



beaches. The former spe- 

 cies is distinguished by 

 narrow panicles of erect 

 branches, the latter species 

 (which is also found in 

 sandy soil inland) by large, 

 widel\' opened flowering- 

 heads brilliantly painted 

 with vivid-coloured anthers 

 and stigmas. 



Nor is the above a com- 

 plete list of the Panic- 

 grassesthatbloomin Eastern 

 States: in some localities 

 nearly a score of species 

 may be gathered within the 

 radius of a mile. Brilliant 

 tints are given to man\', 

 purple and reddish brown 

 colour the green spikelets; 

 orange and terra-cotta tinge the anthers 

 of some, purple the anthers of others. 

 Often in the smaller species a few leaves 

 are dyed in crimson, and in the majority 

 of the Panic-grasses the feathery stigmas 

 are of deep purple. 



Cockspur Grass. Barnyard Grass. 

 Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. 



Annual. Naturalized from Europe. 

 Stem 1-6 ft. tall, coarse, erect, branching. 



Sheaths usually smooth, flattened. Ligule 



wanting. Leaves 6'-24' long, 3"-! 2" wide, 



rough margined. 

 Panicle y-12' long, coarse, branches erect or 



spreading, densely flowered on lower side. 



Spikelets ovate, i-ftowercd, i"-i|" long. 



Scales 4; 1st scale minute, and and 3d 



scales rough, about equal, 3d scale awned 



or awnless; flowering scale shining, enclos- 

 ing a palet of similar texture. Stamens 3. A variable species. 

 Cultivated grounds, waste places, and by ditches. August to September. 

 Throughout North America, except in the extreme north. 



73 



Cockspur Grass 

 Echinochloa crusgalli 



