IN TENNESSEE. 231 



DIARRHENA, Ha,S.-(Dimrhena). 



Spikelets several flowered, smooth and shining, one or two of the up- 

 permost flowers sterile, glumes ovate, much shorter than the flowers, 

 coriaceous ; the lower one much smaller. Lower palet ovate, convex 

 on the back, rigidly coriaceous, its 3 nerves terminating in a strong and 

 abrupt cuspidate or awl-shaped tip. Bquamulae ovate, ciliate. Sta- 

 mens two. Grain very large, obliquely ovoid, obtusely pointed, rather 

 longer than the palets, the cartilaginous, shining pericarps not adherent 

 to the seed. A nearly smooth perrennial, with running rootstalks, 

 producing simple culms, 2-3 feet high, with long linear lanceolate 

 flat leaves towards the base, naked above, bearing a few short pedicelled 

 spikelets in a very simple panicle. 



DIARRHENA AMERICANA, Beauv. 



American Diarrhena, is the only species frequent in our woods, and 

 in quality as food about equal to the cheat. 



ELUSINE INDICA, Gaert— (Crab Grass—Yard Grass). 



Spikelets 2-6 flowered, with a terminal naked rudiment, closely imbri- 

 cate-spiked on one side of a flattish rhachis; the spikes digitate. 

 Glumes membranaceous, pointless, shorter than the flowers. Palets awn- 

 less and pointless ; the lower ovate, keeled, larger than the upper. Sta- 

 mens 3. Pericarp containing a loose oval, and wrinkled seed. Culm* 

 oblique compressed and flat at the base. Spikes 2-4. 



It is found in every garden, around every house, and is 

 spread over most parts of the world. It is an annual, but 

 its roots holds so firmly to the soil that it is difficult to pull 

 it up with the hand. It forms very good and lasting pick- 

 ing for all stock. It is also called Wire-grass or Dog's-tail. 

 MELICA MUTICA, Walt.— (Blunt-spiked Melica). 



Spikelets one-five flowered; glumes convex, obtuse, and large. 

 Stamens three, panicle loose, smooth and simple. On cliffs and in 

 copses, 1^-2 feet high, soft and eatable. One of the earliest spring 



GLYCERIA PALLIDA, TRIN.-- (PaZe Manna Grass). 



Panicle erect, with hairy branches ; has few, linear, oblong spike- 

 lets, from five to nine flowered ; lower palea oblong, minutely five- 

 toothed ; short, sharp-pointed, pale-green leaves ; stems creeping at the 

 base, from one to two feet long. 



It grows in shallow water, or very wet, boggy places, and 

 is of no agricultural value whatever, as it will not grow on 

 good, dry soils. 



