130 FLORA. 



Culms erect or ascending, simple, rirpd, 4.5-16 dm. tall ; usur.lly perennials. 

 Spikelets not clustered. 



Branches of the open panicle widely spreading, at least when old. 



Spikelets closely sessile. 7. E. sessilispica. 



Spikelets more or less pedicelled. 



Pedicels long, commonly at least the length of the Spikelets. 



9. E. pectinacea. 

 Pedicels commonly much shorter than the Spikelets. 



Leaves elongated ; branches of the panicle long and slender ; spike- 

 lets scattered, 6-2 5- flowered. 10. E. refracta. 

 Leaves not elongated ; branches of the panicle short and stout, 

 rigid, spikelets crowded, 5-i2-flowered. 8. E. curtipedicellata. 

 Branches of the elongated panicle erect or ascending, capillary, somewhat 



flexuous. ii. E. trichodes. 



Spikelets clustered on the very short erect or ascending branches. 



12. E. secundiflora. 

 Culms extensively creeping ; flowers dioecious. 13. E. hypnoides. 



1. Eragrostis capillaris (L.) Nees. CAPILLARY ERAGROSTIS. (I. F. f. 428.) 

 Culms 2-4.5 dm. tall, erect, slender, sparingly branched at the base. Sheaths 

 glabrous or sparingly hairy, the upper enclosing the base of the panicle; leaves 

 7.5-25 cm. long, 24 mm. wide, long-acuminate, smooth beneath, scabrous above 

 and sparingly hirsute near the base; panicle diffuse, 1-4 dm. in length, the 

 branches capillary, spreading or ascending, 3.75-12.5 cm. long; spikelets ovate, 

 2-4-flowered, little flattened, 2-3 mm. long ; empty scales about equal, acute ; 

 flowering scales acute, the lower 1.5 mm. long. In dry places, N. H. and R. I. 

 to N. Y. and Mo., south to Ga. and Tex. Aug. -Sept. 



2. Eragrostis Frankii Steud. FRANK'S ERAGROSTIS. (I. F. f. 429.) Culms 

 1.5-4 dm. tall, tufted, erect, or often decumbent at the base. Sheaths loose, 

 shorter than the internodes; leaves 5-12.5 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, smooth 

 beneath, scabrous above; panicle 5-15 cm. in length, open, the branches ascending, 

 the lower 2.5-3.75 cm. long; spikelets ovate, 3-5 -flowered, 2-3 mm. long; empty 

 scales acute, the first shorter than the second; flowering scales acute, the lower 1.5 

 mm. long. In moist places, southeastern N. Y. and northern N. J. to Minn., south 

 to Miss., La. and Kans. Sept. -Oct. 



3. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) Beauv. TUFTED ERAGROSTIS. (I. F. f. 430.) 

 Culms 1.5-4.5 dm. tall, tufted, erect, slender, branched. Sheaths sometimes 

 pilose at the throat; leaves 2.5-12.5 cm. long, 2 mm. wide or less, smooth beneath, 

 scabrous above; panicle 5-15 cm. in length, the branches at first erect, finally 

 widely spreading, 2.5-3.75 cm. long, often hairy in the axils; spikelets 5 12-flow- 

 ered, 3-6 mm. long, about I mm. wide; lower scales acute, the first one-half as 

 long as the second; flowering scales acute, the lower 1.5 mm. long, thin, usually 

 purplish. Waste places or cultivated ground, southern N. E. to 111. and Kans., 

 south to Fla. and Tex. Naturalized from Europe. Aug.-Sept. 



4. Eragrostis Purshii Schrad. PURSH'S ERAGROSTIS. (I. F. f. 431.) Culms 

 1.5-4.5 dm. tall, tufted, usually decumbent at the base and much branched, smooth. 

 Leaves 3-75-8-75 cm> l n & 2 mm - wide or less, smooth beneath, rough above; pani- 

 cle open, 7.5-20 cm. long, the branches spreading, 2.5-6.25 cm. long, naked in the 

 axils; spikelets 5-15-flowered, dull purple or green, 3-8 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. 

 wide; empty scales acute, the lower about two-thirds as long as the upper, scabrous 

 on the keel; flowering scales acute, firm, the lower ones 1.5 mm. long. In dry 

 places, apparently throughout the U. S., extending into Ont. Aug. -Sept. 



5. Eragrostis Eragrostis (L.) Karst. Low ERAGROSTIS. (I. F. f. 432.) 

 Culms seldom over 4 dm. tall, tufted, usually decumbent and much branched. 

 Sheaths sparingly pilose at the throat; leaves 2.5-6.25 cm. long, 1-4 mm. wide, 

 smooth beneath, rough above and somewhat pilose near the base; panicle 5-11.25 

 cm. in length, the branches spreading or ascending, 1.8-3.75 cm. long; spikelets 

 8-i8-flowered, 6-IO mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; empty scales acute, the first two- 

 thirds as long as the second; flowering scales obtuse, 1.5 mm. long, the lateral 

 nerves prominent. In waste places or cultivated ground, Ont. to N. E., N. Y. and 

 Perm. Locally naturalized from Europe. July-Sept. [E. minor Host.] 



6. Eragrostis major Host. STRONG-SCKNTED ERAGROSTIS. (I. F. f. 433.) 

 Culms 1.5-6 dm, tall, erect, or decumbent at the base., usually branched. Sheaths 



