162 TEICUSPIS. 



ann.ual, growing from two to three feet Mgh. Flowers 

 in August. 



2. L. Fascicularis, Oray (Clustering Slender G-rass). 

 Brackisli meadows from Rhode Island southward, 

 along the coast, and from Illinois southward, on the 

 Mississippi. Flowers in August. 



25. TRICUSPIS— Beauv. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Spikelets 3 to 12-flowered, somewhat terete ; the 

 terminal flower abortive. Glumes unequal. RhacMs 

 of the spikelet bearded below each flower. Palets 

 membranaceous or somewhat chartaceous ; the lower 

 much larger than the 2 -toothed upper one, convex, 2 

 to 3-toothed or cleft at the apex, conspicuously hairy- 

 bearded or villous on the 3 strong nerves, of which 

 the lateral are marginal or nearly so and usually ex- 

 current, as is the mid nerve especially, into a short 

 cusp or awn. Stamens 3. Stigmas dark purple, 

 plumose. Grain oblong, nearly gibbous. Leaves 

 taper-pointed ; sheaths bearded at the throat. Pan- 

 icle simple or compound ; the spikelets often race- 

 mose, purplish 



Name from the Latin trlcuspis, three-pointed, al 

 luding to the lower palet. 



1. T. Seslerioides (Tall Red Top). A showy ^rass, 

 growing from three to 5 feet high, ojx dry or sandy 

 fields, from New York to Illinois, and southward. 

 Flowers in August. 



