33 



commonly in the northern parts of Europe, as Norway, Sweden, and 

 Russia. It does not appear to be adapted to general cultivation. 



3. H. macrophylla, Thurb. California and Oregon. 



4. H. panciflora, JR. Br. Melville Island. 



Alopbccteus, Linn. 



Flowers crowded in a cylindrical spike. Spikelets one-flowered. 

 Outer glumes strongly compressed, boat-shaped, keeled, nearly equal, 

 frequently united at the base ; third or flowering glume shorter, 

 keeled, with a slender dorsal awn, frequently more or less united 

 below by the opposite margins, and inclosing the stamens and 

 styles ; without a palet. 



1. A. agrestis, Linn. Sparingly naturalized. 



2. A. alpinus, Sm. "Rocky Mountains. 



3.? A. csespitosus, Trin. Northwest America — not since seen. 



4. A. geniculatns, Linn. From Atlantic to Pacific. Water-Fox 



tail. 



A. genicnlatus, var. aristulatus, Munro. From Atlantic to Pa- 

 cific. "Water-Fox tail. 



This species, especially the variety aristulatus, is native to this 

 country. It is commonly found on the muddy banks of streams 

 and lakes, and sometimes is found in wet meadows and ditches. It 

 seldom grows more than a foot in height ; the stem is usually bent 

 at the lower joints, and the sheaths of the leaves are more or less 

 swollen, especially the upper one. It is of no value for cultivation, 

 being only useful for the amount of grass it may contribute to the 

 wild forage where it gro.ws. 



5. A. pratensis, Linn. Meadow Fox-tail. Introduced. 



This is a perennial grass, native of Europe, but has been intro- 

 duced and is frequently found in meadows in the Eastern States. 

 It has considerable resemblance to timothy, but will be readily dis- 

 tinguished by an examination. It ordinarily grows about 2 feet 

 high, but frequently in good soil reaches 3 feet or more. The 

 culms are erect, with four or five leaves at pretty uniform distances. 

 The sheaths are long and rather loose, particularly the upper one. 

 The blade of the leaf is 3 or 4 inches long, about one-quarter inch 

 wide at the base, and tapering gradually to a point. The panicle 

 terminates the stalk and is a cylindrical spike 2 or 3 inches long, 

 3 



