332 POACE^E. 



whorls of 4-G, the longesi. 2 cm. long, bearing 6-14 spikelets below 

 the middle. Empty glumes eqiud or siibequul, ovate when spread, 

 abruptly acute, scabrid on the keel, '-.' mm. long, a little more or 

 less; floral glume broadly oval, truncate, a little shorter than the 

 empty glumes; palea broad, 0.7 mm. long. 



Mexico, Priugh 4^51, near brooks, at an altitude of 12,000 feet; 

 also found in Quito, S. A. 



21. A. ALUA L. Sp. PI. 63 (1T53). Red Top. Creepino 

 Hent. Fiorin. 



Culms 40-100 cm. high, often decumbent at the base from 

 perennial rootstocks making a close turf. Sheaths smooth, about 

 as long as the internodes; ligule oblong or linear, 3-5 mm. long; 

 blades 5-7, flat, smooth or roughened, 8-18 cm. long, 3-7 mm. wide. 

 Panicle exserted, oblong, green, purple or brown, Vl-ZO cm. long, 

 spreading when in llower and contracting afterwards; rays rough, 

 tiie lower in half-whorls of 8-30, some very short, others sometimes 

 7 cm. long, flower-bearing along the upi)er two-thirds. 8])ikelets 

 2-2.5 mm. long; first glume exceeding the second but very little 

 or none; floral glume truncate, 1.5-2 mm. long or a little less, 3-5- 

 iierved, rarely with a short awn; palea one-third to two-thirds as 

 long as its glume. 



Vermont, Pritujlc; Massachusetts, C. E. Faxon, Beat 72, Stnr- 

 tevavant; Ontario, Fowler; Pennsylvania, Scrihner for. V . S. De})t. 

 Agricul. 411; Michigan, dhu/c 692, 693, Coohn, Beal 73, 74, 75, 

 Fanoell, Prentiss 130; Minnesota, Bailey B 127, llohinger; Illi- 

 nois, Sandberg 35; Colorado, Cassidg; "Wyoming, Buff urn C 51; 

 Montana, Anderson 72; District of Columbia, McdariJnj. 



No. 4485 of Pringle's Plants of Mexico in 1893, labelled J. 

 Schiedenna Trin., seems to belong here. 



A very variable grass, often abundant on river bottoms and 

 marshes. In Michigan it is tlie only grass known among farmers 

 as " Red Top." In Pennsylvania it is known as *' Herd's Grass." 

 It is a native of Europe. 



" Its different forms have given grounds for over 30 nominal 

 species. A. alba has an elongated acute ligule, and the panicle con- 

 tracted after flowering; the form once known as the si)ecie3 A. vul- 



