GRASS FAMILY. — 375 
its roots tend to Peapeoncaied, aa it is not among the most esteemed 
grasses—either for pas or hay. It should be borne in mind, by 
— = ad, dat this i is not the “ Herd-grass ” of New York and 
ngland whi ch i s Phleum pratense, = Se: thy. The whole 
nd by the i? 
and one of the spec ie Alba, L., var. solomon was quite cele- 
brated some years io der the name of “ Fiorin Grass,” as being su- 
— to all others for "vekling great cr ae < hay ; but t like many 
nearly ceased to 
7. MUHLENBERG’IA, Schreber. Drop-srep Grass. 
{In honor of Rev. Henry Muhlenberg, D. D. ; an early and eminent American Botanist.] 
Spikelets mostly i in contracted panicles. Glumes acute or —o 
the | the imes very mi Flor 
ower 
one 3-nerved, mucronate or awned at the apex. "Stamens 3. Perennials 
oem branching rigid culms from scaly teepeiie poubatalhe} leaves short 
1. M. Schreber. Culms slender, diffusely branching ; 
short, Mod ng ; a es terminal and lateral, contracted and pee 
glumes very minute, the lower obsolete ; lower palea with an awn once 
Spreapina Mun.eypercta. Drop-seed Grass. Nimble Will. 
Culm Ata 12 and 18 inches long, decumbent, geniculate, compressed, Mae spay 
rather wiry, glabrous, much branched—the branches assurgent. Leaves 1~ =o 
ory ary divaricate, lance-linear, acute roughish ; sheaths rather oe no 
iate. Panicles 3-6 or 8 eee ng 
us; 
emose. Glumes persistent, very mice low wer one a mere 
= 
n 
yl 
z 
po 
: 
2 
& 
rudiment, the eee one trunciate, laciniate-dentate. Palee unequal, Praca Fetes: er one 
longer, ,» With 3 prominent, scabrous nerves, and terminat a slender 
scabrous awn, wane is generally a little longer than the palea itself. Carpapel linear- 
oblong, acute, brown. 
medal yards a ane borders of dry open woodlands. Fl. August-September. Fr. 
Obs. This slender grass often appears in considerable quantity in 
the latter part of summer, in fields Which have been kept up some years 
for eee: Cattle feed on it; but it is not so valnable as several of 
. Itissai 
the o rein mention ti to be known in K 
by the name of “ Nimble Will.” In Pennsylvania it. h ly b 
ffici acquire a ¢ . 
2. M. Mexica’na, Trin. _ Coles ascending much branched ; cl 
cs lateral, contracted ; glumes acuminate, rage fe as 
* the paler ; palew nearly equal, pose at base very acute, but not awned.. 
