GENERA OF GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 69 



Type species: Melica nutans L. 



Melica L., Sp. PI. 66, 1753; Gen. PL, ed. 5, 31. 1754. Linnreus describes three 

 species, M. ciliata, M. nutans, and M. altissima, all species of Eurasia and all 

 now retained in the genus Melica. In the Flora Lapponica, where the generic 

 name was first used, the only species described is referred by Linnaeus in the 

 Species Plantarum to M. nutans; hence this species is selected as the type. 



Bromelica Farwell, Rhodora 21: 77. 1919. Based on Melica, section 

 Bromelica Thurb., of which the type is M. Itromoides Gray (M. yeyeri Munro). 



l 



FIG. 30. Golden-top, AcJiyrodes aureum. Plant, X \ ; fertile spikelet and floret, X 5. 



In our eastern species, Melica mutica Walt. (fig. 31) and M. nitens 

 Nutt., the sterile lemmas form a rather prominent truncate or hood- 



