44 GRAMINACEAE (GRASS FAMILY) 



A. Lemma with 1-3 veins. 

 B. Rachilla with long hairs which exceed the lemma in length; plants tall, reedlike. 

 E. — (Gk. phragmites = growing in hedges; referring to its hedgelike growth 

 along ditches.) Phragmites comnLunis (reed) 



BB. Rachilla glabrous or with short hairs which do not equal the lemma in length.; 

 plants not reedlike. 

 C, Plant 1-2 dm. high; stems dichotomously branched; leaves crowded in dense 

 tufts at the nodes or ends of the stems; stigma with short hairs on all sides. E. 

 — (Honor of Gen. William Munro, an English agrostologist.) 



Munroa squarrosa (t-alse buffalo-grass) 

 CC. Most species taller; stems not dichotomously branched; leaves not in dense 

 tufts along the stem; stigma plumose. 

 D. Glumes nearly equal in length, but very unlike in form, the first narrowly 

 linear and i-veined, the second broadly obovate and obtuse and 3-veined. — 

 (Honor of Amos Eaton, an American botanist). Eatonla 



DD. Glumes unequal in length, but similar in form. 

 E. Lemmas acute or awned, the veins converging in the tip. W. E. — A good 

 range grass. (Honor of G. L. Koeler, a German botanist.) 



Koeleria cristata (june grass) 

 EE. Lemma obtuse, the veins parallel and not converging in the tip. 

 F. Panicle narrow; spikelets 3-50-flowered; rachilla not jointed; lemma decid- 

 uous; palet persistent. — (Gk. er = spring, agrostis = a grass.) 



Eragrostis (meadow grass) 

 FF. Panicle open; spikelets 2-fiowered; racBilla jointed; lemma and palet 

 both deciduous. E. — (Gk. katabrosis = an eating; because glumes and 

 lemma have margins roughened as if gnawed.) 



Catabrosa aquatica (water whorl-grass) 

 AA. Lemma with 5 or more veins. 

 G. Spikelets nearly sessilej in dense i-sided clusters at the ends of the few panicle 

 branches. W. E. — A very good early range grass. (Gk. daciylos = a finger; 

 referring to the thick spreading panicle branches.) 



Dactylis glomerata (orchard grass) 

 GG. Spikelets not in dense i -sided clusters at the ends of the panicle branches. 

 H. Spikelets as wide as long, somewhat heart-shaped. U. — (Gk. hriza = a 

 grain similar to rye.) Brlza minor (quaking grass) 



HH. Spikelets much longer than wide, not heart-shaped. 



I. Keels of the palet with a distinct crest or winglike appendage. — (Gk. pleuron 

 = side, pogon = beard; referring to the ciliate keels of the palet.) 



Pleuropogon (pleuropogon) 



II. Keels of the palet not winged. 



J. Lemma somewhat keeled on the back. 

 K. Lemma 2-toothed at apex, very rarely awnless; stigma arising below apex 

 of ovary. BROMUS (p. 46) 



KK. Lemma acute or obtuse, not 2-toothed, not awned; stigma arising at apex 

 of ovary. 

 L. Glumes with 1-3 veins. POA (p. 45) 



LL. Glumes with 5 or more veins; salt-marsh plant. W. E. — (Gk. distickos 

 = 2-ranked; referring to the flattish inflorescence.) 



Distlchlis spicata (salt grass) 

 JJ. Lemma rounded on the back, not at all keeled. 

 M. Upper lemmas of spikelet sterile, club-shaped or hooded. — (L. mel == honey; 

 it was formerly the name of Sorghum which has a sweet pith.) 



Melica (melic grass) 

 MM. Upper lemmas of spikelet either perfect, or else narrow and abortive but 

 not club-shaped nor hooded. 



