54 



TRIANDRIA DIGYNfA 



Root perennial. Culm erect, 2 to 4 or 6 feet high, simple, glabrous. Leave* 

 linear-lanceolate, a foot or more in length, nerved, scabrous on the margin : sheaths 

 smooth, striate; ligule membranaceous, elongated, lacerated. Panicle terminal, 

 6 to 12 inches long, rather contracted, or attenuated above, somewhat serund and 

 nodding. Glumes lance-linear, acute, margins scarious; upper one 3-nerved, with 

 a scabrous keel. Palea unequal ; the lower one larger, about as long as the upper 

 glume, with a nerve on each side, and a short straight awn, a little below the tip. 

 Stamen 1. Seed oblong, acute. 



Uab. Moist, rich woodlands ; frequent. Fl. August. Fr. September. 



Obs. This is a fine looking grass ; and if it could be cultivated successfully in 

 •pen grounds, might be worthy the attention of Agriculturists. It seems, however, 

 to prefer growing in the shade of rich woodlands. It is the only sj>ecies of the pc- 

 BUS in the U. Stales ; and has been denied that distinction, by several modem Hot- 

 anists. A number have referred it to Agrostis, — and lately it has been joined u 

 Qfuhlenbcrgia: but it appears to me to be suiliciently distinct from both. 



fo. Flowers Triandrous. 



f Spikelel8 in Panicles. 



32. TRICHODIUM. Mx* Mutt. Gen. 65. 

 {Greek, Thrix, Hair, and Eidos, Form; from its hair-like inllorcsccnce.] 



^Panicle capillary. Chimes 2, nearly equal, very acute, scabrous on 

 the keel. Palea 1, shorter than the glumes, sometimes awncd. Seed 

 loosely enclosed by the palea. 



1. T. laxiflohum,*Mo\ Culm erect ; leaves lance-linear, short, scab- 

 rous, lower ones involute ; panicle diffuse, with loiiff, capillary branches, 

 trichotomously divided near the end ; spikelets in terminal clusters. 

 Beck, Bot. p. 389. Icon, JMx. Jim. 1. tab. 8. 



Agrostis Michauxii, var. laxiflora. Gray, Gram. 1. Specim, no. 17. 

 Loose-flowerkd Trichodilm. Vulgo — Hair-grass. 



Root perennial. Culm erect, mostly simple, 1 to 2 feet high, very slender. 

 Lower leaves 3 to 6 Inches long, becoming involute and almost filiform; upper ones 

 shorter, (1 to 3 inches,) flat, linear, nerved and scabrous: sheaths rather open, 

 somewhat scabrous ; ligule lanceolate, membranaceous, lacerate. Panicle purple, 

 very loose ; branches verticillate, the lower ones in 5's or 6's, upper ones in 3's, at 

 first erect, finally spreading, sharply scabrous, long, and very slender or hair-like, 

 divided trichotomously near the end, with tin- spikelets In terminal cluster!. 

 Glumes lance-linear, acuminate, the lower one a little longer (shorter, 7\yrr.). Per- 

 lea lanceolate, awnless. 



Hab. Old fields ; Serpentine ridge : frequent. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. This grass, so remarkable for its handsome capillary panicles, was first, 

 collected, here, in 1829, by D. Townsend, Esq. 



2. T. scabrum, MuhL Culm geniculate at base, assurgent, branch- 

 ed ; leaves linear-lanceolate, flat, scabrous on the margin ; panicle ob- 

 long, branches spreading, or divaricate, twice or thrice trichotomously 

 divided ; spikelets rather scattered. Beck, Bot. p 9 389. 



T. decumbens. Mx. Jim. 1. />.42. Pers. Syn. 1. p. 73, Pursh, Am^ 

 1. p. 61. Mutt. Gen. 1. p. 42. LindL Ency. p. 56. Alse ? Muhl* 

 C*tal p. 10, Hjutd. Gra m .p % 60. 



