650 GRAMINE^E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 



* * Bristles in clusters, roughened or barbed upwards. 



2. S. glauca, Beauv. (Foxtail.) Spike cylindrical, dense, tawny yellow 

 (2' -4' long) ; bristles 6-11 in a cluster, much longer than the spikelets ; perfect 

 flower transversely wrinkled. — Very common, in stubble, &c. (Adv. from Eu.) 



3. S. viridis, Beauv. (Green Foxtail. Bottle-Grass.) Spike nearly 

 cylindrical, more or less compound, green ; bristles few, longer than the spikelets ; 

 perfect flower striate lengthwise and dotted. — Cultivated grounds. (Adv. from Eu. ) 



4. S. Italica, Kunth. Spike compound, interrupted at the base, thick, nod- 

 ding (6'-9' long, yellowish or purplish) ; bristles 2 or 3 in a cluster, either much 

 longer or else shorter than the spikelets. (S. Germanica, Beauv.) — Sometimes 

 cultivated under the name of Millet, or Bengal Grass : rarely spontaneous. 

 (Adv. from Eu.) 



62. CENCHRUS, L. Hedgehog- or Bur-Grass. (PI. 14.) 



Spikelets as in Panicum, awnless, but enclosed 1 to 5 together in a globular 

 and bristly or spiny involucre, which becomes coriaceous and forms a deciduous 

 hard and rigid bur : the involucres sessile in a terminal spike. Styles united 

 below. (An ancient Greek name of Setaria Italica.) 



1. C. tribuloides, L. Culms branched and ascending (l°-2° high) from 

 an annual root ; leaves flat ; spike oblong, of 8 - 20 spherical heads ; involucre 

 prickly all over with spreading and barbed short spines, more or less downy, 

 enclosing 2 or 3 spikelets. — Sandy soil, on the coast, the Great Lakes, and the 

 larger rivers. Aug. — A vile weed. 



63. TRIPSACUM, L. Gama-Grass. Sesame-Grass. (PI. 14.) 



Spikelets monoecious, in jointed spikes, which are staminate above and fertile 

 below. Staminate spikelets 2, sessile at each triangular joint of the narrow 

 rhachis, forming a 1-sided and 2-ranked spike longer than the joints, both alike, 

 2-flowcred : glumes coriaceous, the lower (outer) one nerved, the inner one boat- 

 shaped : palcts very thin and membranaceous, awnless : anthers ( turning orange 

 or reddish-brown) opening by 2 pores at the apex. Pistillate spikelets single 

 and deeply imbedded in each oblong joint of the cartilaginous thickened rhachis, 

 occupying a boat-shaped recess which is closed by the polished and cartilaginous 

 ovate outer glume, the inner glume much thinner and pointed, 2-flowered; the 

 lower flower neutral, palets very thin and scarious, pointless. Styles united : 

 stigmas very long (purple), hispid. Grain ovoid, free. Culms stout and tall, 

 solid, from very thick creeping rootstocks. Leaves broad and flat. Spikes ax- 

 illary and terminal, separating spontaneously into joints at maturity. (Name 

 from rpi'/3co, to rub, perhaps in allusion to the polished fertile spike.) 



1. T. dactyloides, L. Spikes (4' -8' long) 2-3 together at the summit 

 (when their contiguous sides arc more or less flattened), and also solitary from 

 some of the upper sheaths (when the fertile part is cylindrical) ; sometimes, var. 

 monostXciiyum, the terminal spike also solitary. — Moist soil, from Connecti- 

 cut to Pennsylvania, near the coast, and from Illinois southward. Aug. — Culm 

 4° -7° high : the leaves like those of Indian Corn. — This is one of our largest 

 and most remarkable Grasses : sometimes used for fodder at the South, where 

 better is not to be had. 



