48 BLUE JOINT GKASS. 



11. Brachyelytrum. Bracliyelytrum. 



Glumes two, very miuute, lower scarcely to be seen ; 

 lower pale with a long bristle at the top, upper with 

 rudimentary flower at the base ; perennial. 



The Erect Muhlenbergia, or Awned Brachyely- 

 trum {Brachyelytrum aristatum), is often found in rocky 

 woods, on the sides of Wachuset Mountain, and in many 

 other similar situations. Flowers in June and July. 

 Common also at the West. 



12. Calamagrostis. Beed Bent Grass. 



One-flowered spikelets, open panicle, contracted or 

 spiked; glumes keeled, about equal to the paleaj, 

 around which, at the base, is a thick tuft of white 

 bristly hairs ; lower pale generally with a slender awn 

 on the back ; stamens three ; grain free. 



Blue Joint Grass {Calamagrostis Canadensis). — 

 Stems three to five feet high, grayish; leaves flat; 

 panicle often purplish ; the ghimes acute, lanceolate ; 

 lower palea not longer than the very fine hairs, bearing 

 an extremely delicate awn below the middle, nearly 

 equal to the hairs. Flowers in Jul}-. 



Blue Joint Grass is very common on low grounds. 

 It is generally considered a valuable grass, and is eaten 

 greedily by stock in the winter, being thought by some 

 to be nearly as nutritious as Timothy. It grows so 

 rank and luxuriant on soils suited to it that an immense 

 crop of valuable hay is often made from it. 



Crowded Calamagrostis, or Glaucous Small Reed 

 {Calamagrostis coarctata), is also somewhat common in 

 our wet meadows, open swamps, and along low river 

 banks. Its stems are from three to five feet high ; seed 

 hairy, crowned with a bearded tuft; lower palea shorter 



