99 



Elymus, Linn. 



Spikelets two to four at each joint of the rhachis of the simple 

 stout spike, sessile, one to six flowered ; outer glumes two for each 

 spikelet, nearly side by side in its front, forming a kind of involucre 

 for the cluster, narrow, rigid, one to three nerved, acuminate or 

 awned ; flowering glumes herbaceous, rather shorter, oblong or 

 lanceolate, rounded on the back, not keeled, acute or awned ; palet 

 shorter than its glume, two-keeled. 



1. E. arenarius, Linn. Oregon to Alaska. 



2. E. Canadensis, Linn. Wild rye, Eye grass, Lyme grass. New 



England to California. 

 E. Canadensis, var. glaucifolius, Or. New England to Cali- 

 fornia. 



A perennial coarse grass, growing on river banks, and in rich 

 shaded woods. In some localities, especially on moist prairies and 

 banks in the "West, it is quite common and is cut for hay. It should 

 be cut early to be of value. 



3. E. condensatus, Presl. Giant Rye grass. Colorado to Califor- 



nia. 



This is a perennial grass, ranging from San Diego throughout 

 California, and into Oregon and Washington Territory, also in the 

 Rocky Mountain region of the interior. It is very variable, but 

 always a strong, heavy-rooted, coarse grass, from 3 to 5 or even to 12 

 feet high. Mr. Bolander states that it seems to do excellent service 

 by fixing the soil on the banks of creeks and rivers. In the larger 

 forms the culms are half an inch thick. The leaves are smooth, 2 

 feet long and an inch wide, or more, and the panicle 8 to 14 inches 

 long and 1£ inches thick. As it usually occurs in arid grounds it is 

 from 3 to 6 feet high, the leaves about a foot long and half an inch 

 wide, and the spike-like panicle 4 to 8 inches. In the large form 

 the branches of the panicle are subdivided and 1 or 2 inches long. 



Mr. W. C. Cusick, of Oregon, says : 



This is a very valuable grass, commonly known as Kye grass. In Baker county 

 large quantities are cut for hay, for which it is said to be excellent. It is also much 

 used as a winter forage plant. Cattle are driven into the dry bottoms where it grows 

 and live upon it when the shorter grasses are covered with snow. 



4. E. dasystachys, Trin. British America to Alaska. 



5. E. Macounii, Vasey. Mountains of Colorado to Oregon and 



British America. 



