GRASSES. 83 



sessUe on opposite sidef5 of the zigzag peduncle, so that 

 the whole forms a spike. Each spikelet is four- to eight- 

 flowered, and there is but one at each joint of the 

 peduncle, the side of the spikelet being against the stalk. 

 The glumes are nearly equal in size, and the lower palet 

 of each flower closely resembles the glumes, but is sharp- 

 pointed or awned. The grass spreads rapidly by running 

 root-stocks, and is troublesome to eradicate. 



110. Old- Witch Grass is to be found everywhere in 

 sandy soil and in cultivated grounds. The leaves are 

 very hairy, and the panicle very large, compound, and 

 loose, the pedicels being extremely slender. Of the two 

 glumes one is much larger than the other. Unless you 

 are careful you will regard the spikelets as l-flowered.; 

 observe, however^ that in addition to the one manifestly 

 perfect flower thei'e is an extra palet below. This palet 

 (which is very muchlike the larger'glume)is a rudimentary 

 or abortive second flower, a\d the spikelet may be 

 described as IJ-flowered. 



111. Barnyard Grass is a stout, cuarse plant, common 

 in manured soil. It is from one to four feet in height, 

 and branches from the base. The spikelets form dense 

 spikes, and these are crowded in a dense panicle which is 

 rough with stifi" hairs. The structure of the spikelets is 

 much the same as in Old-Witch Grass, but the palet of 

 the neutral flower is pointed with a rough awn or bristle. 



112. In the common Foxtail the inflorescence is 

 apparently a dense, bristly, cylindrical spike. In reality, 

 however, it is a spiked panicle, the spikelets being much 

 the same as in Barnyard Grass, but their pedicels are 

 prolonged beyond them into awn-like bristles. In this 



