192 



GRAMINEAE. 



Vol. I. 



1. Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. Slender Fox- 

 tail. Fig. 458. 



Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. Fl. Angl. 23. 1762. 

 Alopecurus agrestis L. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 89. 1762. 



Smooth or slightly scabrous, culms i°-2° tall, erect, 

 simple. Sheaths shorter than the internodes; ligule 1" 

 long, truncate; blades \\'-f long, i"~3" wide, scabrous, 

 especially above; spike ii'-4' long, 2"-^' thick; outer scales 

 of the spikelet united at the base for about half their length, 

 narrowly wing-keeled, 2"-2i" long, the nerves smooth or 

 scabrous, sometimes hispid below, especially on the keel; 

 third scale equalling or slightly exceeding the outer ones, 

 smooth and glabrous, the awn inserted near the base, about 

 twice its length, bent. 



In waste places and ballast, southern Massachusetts, New 

 York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Adventive from Europe. 

 Native also of Asia. July-Aug. Mousetail ; Bennet-weed. 

 Black bent. Black couch-grass. Hunger-grass. 



2. Alopecurus geniculates L. 



Alopecurus geniculatus L. Sp. PI. 60. 1753. 



Glabrous or very nearly so, culms 6'-l8' tall, usually 

 decumbent at the base, simple or sparingly branched, 

 smooth. Sheaths usually shorter than the internodes, 

 loose or somewhat inflated; ligule li"-3" long; blades 

 rarely exceeding 3' long, V-2" wide, rough, especially 

 above; spikes i's' in length, 2"-4" thick; outer scales 

 of the spikelet slightly united at the base, ii"-ii" long, 

 obtuse or subacute, smooth, glabrous except on the 

 pubescent lateral nerves and strongly ciliate keel; third 

 scale somewhat shorter, obtuse, smooth and glabrous, 

 the awn inserted about i above the base of the scale, 

 and extending for about 1" beyond the spikelet. 



In wet soil, Newfoundland to Kansas, south to Florida 

 and Texas. Also in Europe and Asia. Introduced. Some- 

 times found on ballast. July-Sept. Water or floating fox- 

 tail. Flote-grass. 



Marsh Foxtail. Fig. 459. 



3. Alopecurus aristulatus Michx. Short- 

 awned Foxtail. Fig. 460. 



A. aristulatus Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1 : 43. 1803. 



A. geniculatus var. aristulatus Torr. Fl. U. S. 1 : 97. 

 1824. 



Culms 6-20' tall, erect or somewhat decumbent at 

 the base; sheaths shorter than the internodes; 

 blades up to 6' long, i"-2" wide, rough; spikes 1-3' 

 long, z"-3" in diameter; spikelets .i"-ii" long, the 

 outer scales slightly united at the base, pubescent, 

 acutish, the keel ciliate, the flowering scale a little 

 shorter, obtuse, glabrous, the awn inserted at or near 

 the middle of the scale, barely exserted beyond the 

 spikelet. 



Wet meadows, Maine to Alaska, Pennsylvania and 

 California. June-Aug. 



