SO TKIANDRIA DIGYNIA 



* 



1. D. glohkbata, I* Panicle distantly branched, rather eecund * 

 spikelets in dense unilateral clusters, at the ends of the branches 

 Beck, Bot. p. 407. Icon, Ell. Sk. tab. 9, f. 3. 



Clustered Dacttlis. Vulgo — Orchard grass* Cock' s-foot grass* 

 Gallice — Daciyle pelotonnt. Gennanicc — Gcmeines Knauelgra*. 



Whole plant scabrous. Root perennial. Culm 2 to A feet high. Leaves linear. 

 lanceolate, keeled, glaucous : sheaths striate: ligule elongated, lacerate* Panicle 

 glaucous, contracted, rattier secund ; branches 3 to 5, solitary, erect, distant, sub- 

 divided towards the extremity- Spikeletfi about \-flowered, compressed, crowded 

 in dense* unilateral, ovate or lance-oblong clusters, at the ends of the branches* 

 Glumes unequal ; the loicer ojic narrower, membranaceous; the upper one 3-nerv* 

 ed\ scabrous on the keel* Lower palea scabrous, oratcdu/ueolutc. fanerved, emur- 

 ginate, ciliatc on the keel, which is extended into a cusp, or short scabrous aim \ 

 Upper palea lanceolate, acuminate* bifid at apex, ( iliaie on the tico green keels, 

 the margins replicate, or folded in so (ts to meet, embracing (f l€ stamens. Seed 

 /<mce-oblong, acute at each end, subtrifjuetrous,Jlat or a little concave on the up 

 per side, roundish on the loicer. 



flak Fields, orchards, &c. frequent. Ft. May, Fr. June. 



Obs. This grass has been introduce ! 9 and is naturalized amongst us to a co)i' 

 siderable extent. Our farmers are not agreed upon its merits. Some condemn it 

 as unworthy of culture, either for pasture or hay; whilst others set a high value 

 on it, for both. The fact seems to be, that it is inferior to Timothy (Phleum pre. 

 tense) for hay; yet it has the advantage of the latter, in being mature at the 

 same time with clover,— icith which both are usually cultivated. Jt is also less 

 exhausting to the soil. Butjts great value is as a \ astuiv, when sown sufficiently 

 thick;— which, however, it rarely is,— and hence is apt to form bunches, or become 

 tussocky. // is of quick growth, and is speedily reproduced after being cut, or 

 eaten down— so much so, that we may almost literally apply to it the words of Vir- 



"Et quantum long) 8 carpent armeiita dlebus 



Exiguft tantum gelidufl ros noctc reponet." Georg. lib. 2. 201. 



This grass also possesses the culdit tonal advantage of thriving well in the shade; 

 and answers a very good pmpose in orchards, &c. The .seed is usually sown in 

 autumn, immediately after Wheal, or Rye. It is the only species of the genus in 

 the U. States. 



Div. V. Chlorides — Chlorie Tribe. 



Inplorescbnce Spiked \ mostly unilateral. Spikclets solitary, few-flowered ; 

 terminal floret often abortive. Glumes keeled, not opposite. Lower palea fre* 

 quently owned; upper palea with two keels. 



•j* Palest aw?ied. 



51. ATHEROPOGON. MuhL Mutt. Gen. 110. 

 [Greek, Ather, a Bristle, and Pogon, Beard ; the beards being bristle-like.] 



Spikelets in unilateral spikes, 2-flowcrcd; terminal floret abortive. 

 Glumes 2, unequal, membranaceous; lower one shorter, setiform; up- 

 per one lanceolate, as long as the florets. Perfect foret sul>coriace- 

 ous ; lo-wer palea tricuspidate ; upper palea bifid-dentate. Abortive 

 floret pedicellate, 3-awned, neuter. 



