Order GRAMINE^. 



GENUS XIV. AGROSTIS, Linnaeus. 



Spikelets small, in an open or contracted panicle, i -flowered, often 

 pedicelled on long capillary whorled branches. Empty ghimes 2, nearly 

 equal, acuminate or acute, usually longer than the flowering. Flowering 

 glume sessile, or shortly pedicelled, with or without an awn, obtuse, 

 acute, or truncate. Palea membranous, nearly as long as the glume; 

 very small or - none. Scales 2, Stamens 2 3. Grain terete, free. 

 DISTRIBUTION OF GENUS : TEMPERATE AND COLD CLI- 

 MATES. Etymology : Named from the Greek word for a " field." 



ARRANGEMENT OF THE SPECIES : 



I. Glumes membranous, flowering one much shorter than the 

 empty, truncate and jagged at the tip. Palea membranous, and much 

 shorter than the flowering glume, or absent, without the pedicel of a 

 second glume at its base. 



Flowering glume wholly glabrous, truncate. Panicle usually contracted 



Spikelets -S-inch, on hispid pedicels i. A. antarctica. 

 Spikelets f 2 t L -inch ; pedicels scarcely scabrid ; 



branches of panicle whorled 2. A, caniua. 



Spikelets r^-inch ; pedicels scarcely scabrid - 3. A. Muellcri. 



Spikelets ^ i-inch ; pedicels scarcely scabrid 4. A. subulata. 

 Spikelets A rVinch ; pedicels scarcely scabrid; 



branches of panicle few, opposite or 3-nare. 5. A, parviflora. 



Flowering glume silky. Panicles very broad. 



Leaves narrow, usually involute and filiform - 6. A. wniula. 



Leaves broad, flat 7. A. pilosa. 



II. Glumes membranous ; flowering one much shorter than the 

 empty ; usually bearded at the base, and jagged at the tip. Palea 

 shorter than the flowering glume, with a silky pedicel of a second 





