TRIANDRIA DIGTNIA 59 



B. ercctum. Eat. .Man. p. 57. 

 Erect Mchlenbergia. 



Root perennial, creeping, soboliferous Culm 2 to 3 feet high, retrorsely pubes- 

 cent at anil below the nudes. Leaves lanceolate, broad ish, 4 to 6 inches long, 

 scabrous, somewhat pilose, and ciliate on the margin: sheaths a little opening, 

 pubescent, especially about the throat ; ligtde membranaceous, lacerate. Panicle 

 simple, racemose, erect; spikclcts all pedicellate, much larger than in the prece- 

 ding species. Glumes very unequal ; the lower one scarcely perceptible, the up 

 per one subulate, rigid, about 4 times shorter than the pale® (10 limes, Torn). 

 Palae lance-linear, strongly nerved, scabrous, with short sharp bristles on the 

 nerves, pilose at base ; the lower one longer, 5-nerved terminating in a scabrous 

 awn more than twice as long as the palea; the upper one involute, grooved on the 

 back, with an awn at base about two thirds its length, which is lodged in the 

 groove. (Beauvois considers this awn as the rudiment of an abortive floret.) 

 Seed long, lance-linear, grooved on one side, brown, with a long white pubescent 

 acumination. 



Hub. Rocky woodlands ; Brandy wine : W. Chester: frequent. Fl. July. />. Aug. 

 Obs. This species is not so common as the preceding. It differs considerably 

 from the M.diffusa; but, I think, is more naturally associated with it than those 

 species of Agrostis, which have been recently referred to Muhlenbergiu. The 

 foregoing are the only species of tiic gen US,— excluding the Agrostides alluded to. 

 The IYI. diffusa affords an indifferent pasture ; but neither of them can be consid- 

 ered of much value. 



f f Spikelcts in a dense cylindrical Spike. 



35. PHLEUM. 7, Mutt. Gen. 76. 

 [A name used by the ancient Greeks; probably for a different plant. J 



Glumes 2, equal, much longer than the paleic, keeled, compressed 

 with an awn proceeding from the midrib. Palem 2, included in the 

 glumes, awnless, truncate. 



1. P. pratexse, L. Culm erect,, spike cylindric, long ; glumes 

 truncate, mucro7iate, with a ciliate keels awn shorter than th< 

 glume. Beck, Bot. p. 392. Icox, Ell. Sk. 1. tab. 7. f. 1. 

 Meadow Pueeum. Vulgd— Timothy. Cat's-tail Grass. 

 Galhce— Fltole des PreS. Germanice— Das IViesen-lieschgras. 



Root perennial,. fibrous, or sometehat tuberous lehcn old. Culm 2 to 4 feet high 

 simple, erect, terete, smooth. Leaves line ar-lameolatc , fiat, nerval, glaucous, 

 sometehat scabrous: sheaths striate, smooth; ligule membranaceous, obtuse, at 

 length lacerate. Spike 3 to 6 or 8 inches long, dense, cylindric, green. Glume, 

 equal, compressed, abruptly mucronate, pubescent, ciliate on the keel 1'altse 

 concealed in the glumes ; loicer one larger. Anthers purple. Stigmas white. 

 Hab. Fields and meadows : common. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



Obs. This grass is a native of Europe : but is extensively naturalized In 

 Aew England it is known by the name of Herein Grass ; a name which is here 

 mppi,ed exclusively to Agrostis vulgaris. The meadow Phleum, or Timothy, is 

 ■eery generally cultivated in Chester County ; and U undoubtedly one of the most 



*ratea*e,) ,/ makes the best quality of hay. U requires a good soil and is eZ 



