FKSTrci'LE. 



627 



above B. secalimis L., B. mollis L., B. racemosus L., B. mnlti- 

 jlonis L. 



Iiitroduceil from Europe. 



135. (2()4). Beachypodium Beauv. Agrost. 100 (1812). 7>/.s'- 

 lichcla Elirli. Bortr. 4 : 14S (ITS!)). Trachynia Link, llort. Borol. 

 1 : 4.: (lH'i7). Iletnibromus Steiul. Syn. PI. Griini. 1 : 317 (Lsaa). 



Spikiilt'ts niiiiiy-flowert'd, coin])resse(l or snbterete, few in ji 

 simple spike, subsessile or witli fc„ )vi pedicels, rjicliilla ;.diibroiis, 

 jirtieulute between tbe florets. Empty glumes shorter thau the 

 llorul gliimo, shortly uwjied or awn- 

 k'ss; lloral glume firm, narrow, round 

 on the back, T-9-nerved, entire or 

 producing a sliort awn; palca but 

 little shorter tlian its glu»ne, bi'oad, 

 2-keeled, eiliate. Stamens 3, rarely 

 3. Ovary ciliate, styles very short. 

 Grain linear or narrowly oblong, 

 flattened on tlie back, grooved or 

 concave in front, adhering more or 

 less to ghime and palea. 



Erect perennials or annuals, 

 blades flat or involute, terete. 

 Spikek'ts distant. 



'I'lierc are six to eight species 

 found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Mex- 

 ico, and South America, three of A 

 which belong in North America. ^ 



1. B. Pringlei Scribn. ined. 



. 1 1 i (?i. 1 1 1 1 1 Fig. 117. — BracJn/podii/m Mixira. 



A densely tufted slender branch- „„„, Spikeletl A, empiy 



ing perennial, erect or ditfuse, 20-70 Kl'inu's; n, b, views of 11. .ret. 

 cm. bigh. Culms slender, sometimes 



capillar}', nodes pilose. Sheatbs often loose; ligule very short; 

 blades of the culm variable, firm and closely involute, rigid, 3-4 cm. 

 long, or thin, flat, scabrid, 10-15 cm. long, 3-4 mm. wide, ta[)ering 

 froTU the middle toward each end. Spikes bearing 4-G erect 

 spikelets, which are linear, 5-9-flowered, lG-23 cm. long. Empty 



