160 DACTTLOCTBNIFM. — ELEUSINE. 



22. D ACT YLOCTENTUM— Wild. Egyptian 



Geass. 



generic character. 



Spikelets several-floweredjwitlitlie Tipperinost flow- 

 er imperfect, crowded on one side of a flatened rlia- 

 chis, forming dense pectinate spikes, 2 to 5 in num- 

 ber, digitate at the summit of the culm. Glumes 

 compressed laterally and keeled, membranaceous, 

 the upper (exterior) one awn- pointed. Lower palet 

 strongly keeled and boat-shaped, pointed. Stamens 

 3. Pericarp a thin utricle, containing a loose globu- 

 lar and rough-wrinkled seed. Root annual. Culms 

 diffuse, often creeping at the base. 



Name compounded oldaMylos, finger, and^'^ewi"o7i, 

 a little comb, aUuding to the digitate, and pectinate 

 spikes. 



1. D. Egyptiacum (Egyptian Grass). A troublesome 

 weed. 



23 ELEUSINE — Gfertn. Crab Grass, Yard 

 Grass. 



generic character. 



Spikelets 2 to 6 flowered, with a terminal naked 

 rudiment, closely imbricate- spiked on one side of a 

 flattish rhachis ; the spikes digitate. Glumes mem- 

 branaceous, pointless, shorter than the flowers. Pa- 

 lets awnless and pointless ; the lower ovate, keeled, 

 larger than the upper. Stamens 3. Pericarp (utricle) 



