136 FLORA. 



x. Briza media L. QUAKE-GRASS. QUAKING-GRASS. (I. F. f. 455.) 

 Culms 1.5-6 dm. tall, erect, from a perenrial root, simple. Ligule I mm. long or 

 less, truncate; leaves 2.5-7.5 cm. long, 2-5 mm. wide; -panicle 3.75-12.5 cm. in 

 length, the capillary branches spreading or ascending, 2.5-6 cm. long; spikelets 

 45 mm. long, orbicular to deltoid -ovate, 5 12-flowered; scales scarious-margined, 

 the lower ones about 2 mm. long; flowering scales 2-3 mm. long, broader than the 

 lower ones, widely spreading. In fields and waste places, Ont. to Mass, and R. I. 

 Naturalized from Europe. Native also of Asia. June-July. 



2. Briza minor L. LESSER QUAKING-GRASS. (I. F. f. 456.) Culms 1-4 dm. 

 tall, erect from an annual root, simple. Ligule 2-6 mm. long, acute; leaves 

 2.5-12.5 cm. long, 2-8 mm. wide, sometimes scabrous; panicle 5-12.5 cm. in 

 length, open, the capillary branches spreading or ascending, 2.5-6 cm. long; 

 spikelets 3-6-flowered, 2-3 mm. long, about 4 mm. broad, truncate at the base; 

 scales scarious-margined, the lower ones about 2 mm. long; flowering scales much 

 broader and deeply saccate, about 1.5 mm. long. In ballast and waste places 

 about Camden, N. J. ; common in Cal., and widely distributed in tropical America. 

 Adventive or naturalized from Europe. June-July. 



65. DACTYLIS L. 



A tall perennial grass, with flat leaves and paniculate inflorescence. Spikelets 

 3-5 -flowered, short-pedicelled, in dense capitate clusters, the flowers perfect or the 

 upper staminate. Two lower scales empty, thin-membranous, keeled, unequal, 

 mucronate; flowering scales larger than the empty ones, rigid, 5-nerved, keeled, 

 the midnerve extended into a point or short awn ; palets shorter than the scales } 

 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain free, enclosed 

 in the scale and palet. [Name used by Pliny for some grass with finger-like 

 spikes.] A monotypic genus of Europe and Asia. 



i. Dactylis glomerata L. ORCHARD GRASS. (I. F. f. 457.) Culms 6-12 

 dm. tall, tufted. Leaves 7.5-22.5 cm. long, 2-6 mm. wide, flat, scabrous ; panicle 

 7.5-20 cm. in length, the branches spreading or ascending in flower, erect in fruit, 

 the lower 2.5-6 cm. long, spikelet-bearing from above or below the middle ; spike- 

 lets in dense capitate clusters, 3-5 -flowered ; lower scales l-3-nerved, the flowering 

 scales 4-6 mm. long, rough, pointed or short-awned, ciliate on the keel. In fields 

 and waste places, N. B. to Manitoba, south to S. Car. and Kans. Naturalized 

 from Europe and cultivated for fodder. June-July. 



86. CYNOSURUS L. 



Annual or perennial tufted grasses, with flat leaves and dense spike-like inflor- 

 escence. Spikelets of two kinds, in small clusters ; lower spikelets of the clusters 

 consisting of narrow empty scales, with a continuous rachilla, the terminal spikelets 

 of 2-4 broader scales, with an articulated rachilla and subtending perfect flowers. 

 Two lower scales in the fertile spikelets empty, I -nerved, the flowering scales 

 broader, l-3-nerved, pointed or short-awned ; upper scales narrower, usually empty. 

 Scales of the sterile spikelets pectinate, spreading, all empty, linear- subulate, 

 i -nerved. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, short. Stigmas loosely plumose. Grain 

 finally adherent to the palet. [Greek, signifying dog's-tail, referring to the spike. J 

 About 5 species, natives of the Old World. 



i. Cynosu-us cristatus L. DOG'S-TAIL GRASS. (I. F. f. 458.) Culms 

 3-7.5 dm. tall. Leaves 3.75-12.5 cm. long, 1-4 mm. wide, smooth, glabrous ; 

 spike-like panicle 5-10 cm. in length, 5-12 mm. wide, long-exserted ; spikelets ar- 

 ranged in clusters, the terminal fertile, the lower larger and sterile ; scales of the 

 former about 3 mm. long, pointed or short-awned, the scales of the sterile spikelets 

 very narrow, pointed, strongly scabrous on the keel. In fields and waste places, 

 Quebec and Ont. to southern N. Y. and N. J. Adventive from Europe. June-Aug. 



87. POA L. 



Annual or perennial grasses, with flat or convolute leaves and contracted or open 

 panicles. Spikelets 2-6-flowered, compressed, the rachilla usually glabrous; flowers 

 perfect, or rarely dioecious. Scales membranous, keeled; the 2 lower empty, 1-3- 

 nerved; the flowering scales longer than the empty ones, generally with a tuft of 

 cobwebby hairs at the base, 5 -nerved, the marginal nerves usually pubescent, often 



