49C 



POACE.E. 



its glume, oouspicuoualy 2-keeltHl. Stamens 3. Styles distinct. 

 Griiin obovoid-oblong, subtereto, witli a narrow groove or without 

 one. 



A creeping perennial grass, erect or spreading. Leaf-blades 

 Hat. Hranclies of the panicle spreading, capillary. 



There is one species widely dispersed over the temperate parts 

 of Europe, Asia, and North America. Nearly related to ColjmiUioii, 

 Panicidarid. Entf/rosfis. 



1. C. aquatica (L.) Heauv. 1. c. Aim afpiatira L. Sp. PI. 



G4 (ir-);',). 



Culms lO-OOem. high, rather stout. Sheaths 

 loose, longer than the internodes; ligule '2 -3 mm. 

 long; bladi's5-15 cm. long, '2-8 mm. wide, ol)tuse. 

 Florets overlup[)ing about half their length, llrst 

 glume 1 mm. long or less, 1-nerved or nerveless, 

 second l-''-;3-nerved, about 1.5 mm. long, obovate 

 or oval, the a])i'X variously toothed or truncate; 

 floral glume about ;3.r) uim. long, broadly oval, 

 concave, the apex thin and truncate ; palea equal 

 to its glume, irregularly truncate. 



Dakota; Montana, Canhj cO Scribncr 383; 



Europe. 



Fio. 100.- Catn. ^^'>' C^^T). Melica L. Sp. PI. G<! (ir.-)3). 



bwsa aquatica. Dalucuni Adans. Fam. •2:3-23 (17(53). Chon- 



florets. (Scrib- drachijnini Nees, Lindl. Introd. Nat. Syst. Ed, 



^'"-■'■•^ -2:449(1830.) 



Spikelets ~*-8- (rarely 1-) flowered, in a narrow or open panicle, 



rachilla continuous and finally articulate above the empty glumes, 



mostly bearing 1 or more rudimentary florets above. Empty 



glumes membranous or hyaline, obtuse or acute, awnless, unecpuil, 



convex or somewhat compressed on the back, first 3.5- (rarely 1- or 



7-) Jiervcd, second 5-n-nerved, lateral nerves often vanishing within 



the broad margin, often united by cross-vcinlets; floral glume thin or 



firm, rounded on the back, 5 to many-nerved, the scarious tip blunt 



or acute, ending in 3 teeth, central nerves sometimes slightly excur- 



rent, as in Brotnus; pidea 3-nerved, often emargiuate or 2-toothed, 



