518 POACEiE. 



Brizopijrum Presl, Eel. Ilaenk. 1 : 280 (1830), not Link. Dischlis 

 Pliil. Sort. Meml. Alt. 51 (18:i). 



Spikelets sevcrul-flowered, didccious, shortly i)edicellate in a nar- 

 row jianicle, often reduced to 3 or 3 spikelets, racliilla glabrous, 

 articulate between the fertile florets only; outer empty glumes 

 narrow, keeled, acute; floral glume Arm, broader, keeled, obscurely 

 many-nerved, all acute, unawned; palea folded, the keels very 

 prominent or narrowly winged. Stamens in the male flowers 3, 

 ovary rudimentary or 0; staminodia in tlie female flowers very rare. 

 Ovary pedicellate, glabrous, tapering into 3 rather long styles with ex- 

 serted stigmas. Grain obovoid or elliptical, free, Avitli a thick spongy 

 pericarp. Kigid grasses, having creeping rootstocks. Bniznpjjnini 

 Presl has been used as a generic name for those with perfect 

 flowers. The genus consists of a single species, usually maritime, 

 which is very variable and has been often separated into 4 or 5 

 species. It has a wide range in North America, both along the sea- 

 coast and on saline or alkaline lands; also found in Australia. 



1. D. spicata (L.) Greene, Bull. Calif. Acad. 3:415(1887). 

 Uniola spicdfd. Jj. Sp. PI. 71 (1753). D. maritima Pafiu. Journ. 

 Phys. 80:104 (1810). JJn'zupi/rum f<piratuin Hook. cS: Arn. Jiot. 

 Beech. Voy. 403 (1840). B. Amcricannin Link, llo'-t. Berol. 1 : IGO 

 (1827). 



Culms rigid, much-branched, leafy, 15-60 cm. high, from wiry 

 rootstock. Leaves 8-15. sheaths longer than the internodes; blades 

 5-10 cm. long, narrow, rigid, very acute or pungent-pointed, 

 usually distichously spreading. I'anicles slender to ovoid, 3-8 cm. 

 long. Pistillate spikelets 8-16 mm. long, flat, but rather thick, 

 4-13-flowered; staminate spikelets 8-18 mm. long, on slender pedi- 

 cels, 6-18-flowered; empty glumes straw-colored, first 2-3 mm., 

 second 4 mm. long; floral glume of sterile spikelets 3-5 mm. long, 

 of fertile spikelets 5-0 mm. long. 



New Jersey, Brinton for U. S. Dept. Agricul. 621; Delaware, 

 Canhij; Connecticut, ITitclicoclc; North Carolina, McCarthy; 

 Florida. Simpson; Texas, Xealley; Mexico, rainier 43 ; Minnesota, 

 lIohinger'dS\ Montanii, Anderfiun oQ; Oregon, C us ickVM\), Howell; 

 Southern California, Parish 852, Palmer. 



