22 



HOW TO EXAMINE SPECIMENS. 



To aid the reader in finding the true name of an 

 unknown specimen of grass, the following arrangement 

 will be found to be very convenient, and easily under- 

 stood. Let the flowers of the grass be first examined. 

 If but one is found in each spikelet, refer to number 2, 

 of the left-hand column, and then examine and see 

 whether they are arranged in panicles or spikes ; if the 

 former, then refer to number 3 of the left-hand column, 

 and see whether they are awned or not. If awned, 

 refer to number 4, if without awns, to number 12, of 

 the left-hand column. If unawned, and having two 

 glumes, refer to 13, and so on. If without glumes 

 and aquatic, it is a zizania, or wild rice. 



If in the first examination the spikelets are found to 

 have two or more floweus, refer to number 26, of the left- 

 hand column, and see whether the inflorescence is in 

 panicles or spikes. If the former, refer to 27, of the 

 left-hand column. If the latter, in spikes, refer to 39, 

 and then see whether the spikelets are two-rowed, or 

 one-sided. If the latter, refer to 45, and see whether 

 the spikes are digitate and the spikelets in two rows. 

 If they are, refer it to the genus Eleusine. 



