17 



ALOPECURUS GENICULATUS. 



Linn^us. Koch. Smith. Leers. Hooker. Parnell. Lindley. 

 Geeville. Curtis. Marttn. Scheadee. Sinclair. Ehriiart. 



PLATE VI. 

 Alopecurus paniceus, Oeder. 



The Floating Fox-tail Grass. 



Alopecurus — Pox-tail. Geniculatus — Jointed. 



A common Grass, rejected by cattle. Mostly found in moist 

 situations near pools, often floating in the water, yet occasionally 

 to be met with in dry places, where it is more dwarf in habit. 

 When cultivated as an agricultural Grass, the yield is very 

 small. 



It is found in Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, 

 Lapland, Italy, and in few parts of the United States. It is 

 not to be found beyond the elevation of two thousand feet. 



Panicle upright, one to two inches long, cylindrical, compact, 

 having small branches all round the rachis. Spikelets numerous, 

 ovate, upright, one awned floret same length as the calyx. Calyx 

 consisting of two equal-sized membranous glumes, blunt, joined 

 at base; lateral ribs hairy; apex purplish. Floret of one palea. 

 Awn slender, extending half its own length beyond the palea. 

 Anthers linear, yellowish. Styles short. Stigmas long and 

 feathery. Stem ascending, joints bent, striated, and polished, 

 uppermost sheath inflated, and of same length as its leaf. 

 Sheaths smooth. Stem bearing branches from the lower joints. 

 Joints dark purple, smooth, long, and narrow. Leaves flat, 

 rough, edges serrated, acute. Inflorescence simple, panicled. 

 Length twelve to fifteen inches. Root fibrous, perennial. 



