70 



Fig. 48. Alopecurus pratensis L. MEADOW FOXTAIL.— a, A spikelet show- 

 ing the connate, hairy empty glumes, 3 stamens and 2 styles; b, the same with 

 the empty or outer glumes removed; the flowering glume is awned on the 

 back. Figs. 115 and 117, in Bui. 7, and 452, in Bui. 17, illustrate other species of 

 Alopecurus. 



48. ALOPECURUS Linn. Sp. PI. 60. 1753. Spikelets 1-flowered, strongly 

 flattened; rachilla articulated below the empty glumes. Empty glumes 2, equal, 

 awnless, more or less ciliate, especially along the keel, and usually connate 

 at the base; flowering glume obtuse, hyaline, usually awned on the back, the 

 margins near the base connate, forming a short tube. Palea none. Stamens 3. 

 Styles usually distinct. Annual or perennial grasses, with erect or ascending 

 culms, flat leaves, and densely-flowered cylindrical or ovoid, spike-like or capi- 

 tate panicles. 



Species about 20, in temperate Europe, Asia, Australia, and America. North 

 American species, 5 or 6. 



