60 TRIANDRIA D1GYNIA 



xidcred a severe and exhausting crop. TVie seed is usually sown in autumn* aunotis, 

 and immediately after, Wheat and Rye ; though it succeeds very well tchen 

 sots* in the spring. Prof. Eaton enumerates one other species, in the United 

 States. 



t t t Spikelets in unilateral, Panicled Spikes. 



36. SPARTINA. Schreb. Gen. PI. 98. 

 [Said to bo formed from Spar turn; on account of its resemblance to the plant 



called Lygcum Spartum.'] 



Spihelets imbricated in a double row, in unilateral spikes. Glumes 2, 

 unequal, compressed. Palest 8, rather unequal, compressed, awnless. 

 Style long, bifid. Seed oblong, compressed. 



t. S. CTK08UROIDE8, U'illiL Leaves sub-linear, very long, convolute 



and filiform at the end ; spikes alternate, scattered, pedunculate ; glumes 



awncd. Beck, Bot. p. 417. Spkcim. Gray, Gram. S. no. 101. Not! 



of Torr. nor BigeU 



S. polystachia. JHuhL Gram. p. 53. Not of Ell. nor Gray. 



Trachynotia cynosuroides. Mx. Am* I. p. 64. 



Limnetis cynosuroides. Pers. Syn. 1. p. 72. Pursh, Am, 1. p. 59. 



Mitt. Gen. \. p. 38. Not? of Eat. Man. p. 206. 



Crxosunus-LiKE Spartixa. 



Root perennial. Culm 3 to 5 feet high, glabrous, rather slender. Leaves very 

 Longi (2 feet and upwards,) narrow, nearly linear, slightly scabrous on the margin, 

 rather inclining to be convolute, especially at the end, where they become filiform : 

 sheaths striate, glabrous i ligule bearded. Panicle slender, long, loose, rather se- 

 cuud; spikes one-sided, alternate, scattered, 1 ami a half to 3 inches Long, on pedun. 

 cles half an inch to 2 inches in length. Sjnkeltts imbricated in a double row, in- 

 serted alternately on two sides of the triangular rachis,— which is flat on the back, 

 and acutely scabrous on the angles: glumes unequal, compressed, strongly serru- 

 late on the keel ; the lower one about half as long as the upper, lance-linear, ter- 

 minating in a Scabrous awn-like acumination ; the upper glume lance-oblong, mar- 

 gin broad, white, and membranaceous, keel green, aculeate, striate or grooved on 

 each side, and terminating in a scabrous awn, marly as long as the glume. Palea 

 nearly equal, compressed, shorter than the upper glume, white membranaceous, 

 awnless, the lower one with a few prickles on the keel towards the apex. Anthers 

 linear, pale yellow. Style long, bifid; stigmas white. Seed lance-oblong, com- 

 pressed. 



Hub. Margin of the Schuylkill: Black rock : rare. Fl. August. Fr. Sept. 



Obs* Collected by D. Townsbnd, Esq. in 1829. This species seems to have 

 *een confounded with S. polystachya, by several authors; but, from the specimens 

 given by Dr. Gray, they appear to be quite distinct. In S. polystachya, the leaves 

 are much broader,— the spikes more numerous, and in more densely clustered pan* 

 icles,— and the glumes are merely acuminate, or mucronate; whereas, in our plant/ 

 the glumes»are conspicuously awned,— especially the upper one. Three addition* 

 al species are described as natives of the U, States; cliiefly confined w the salt 

 water districts, along the Sea coast. 





