:n t o. 3. 



P ASP ALUM DISTICH UM Linn. 



Plant perennial, the long creeping rootstocks rooting at the nodes and forming 

 a rather close sod, nearly glabrous or sometimes pubescent, somewhat glaucous. 



Culms one or two in a place ascending from the nodes of the rootstocks. 

 branching, solid, angular below, 1 to 2 feet tall. 



Leaves variable; of rootstocks mostly broad, loose, membranaceous scales; of 

 culms 5 to 7; sheaths rather loose, closed, rarely compressed and open, striate; 

 blades flat or slightly involute, 2 to 2| lines wide, 2 to G inches long; ligule an 

 inconspicuous tawny, lacerate fringe, decurrent. 



Inflorescence of 2 rarely 3, narrow, erect, approximate spikes, 1 to 2-? inches 

 long, the lower one raised on a short internode of the axis; rachis flat, bearing the 

 two crowded rows of sessile spikelets in alternate ranks. 



Spikelets broadly oblong-lanceolate, flattened, 1 -flowered, 1 to H lines long; 

 first and second glumes equal, broadly lanceolate, 3-nerved or unsymmetrically 

 -4-nerved; first acute, 1 line long, smooth; second with short, loose pubescence; 

 floral glume broadly lanceolate, smooth, indurated, 3-nerved, 1 line long; palet 

 indurated, ovoid, inclosing grain, acute, obscurely 1-nerved, 1 line long and cpiite 

 as broad. 



Grain elliptical-lanceolate, flattened, nearly black at maturity, minutely 

 roughened, 1 line long; falling with the enveloping palet and glume. Stigmas 2, 

 purple, prominent. 



Plate III; a, first empty glume, dorsal view; b, second empty glume; c, 

 'flowering glume, inside view; (/, palet and stamens; e, pistil. 



Common in the Southern States, Texas, and westward to California. Near the 

 Gulf, and in moist ground it forms valuable pasturage. 



