414 CUtAMINE.E. 



LEiE coriaceous, cylindric-in volute, closely embraein <* the 

 smaller upper one and the cylindrical grain, bearing a long 

 and twisted simple awn, jointed with its apex. Stamens 

 mostly 3. Stigmas plumose. — Perennials, with narrow in- 

 volute leaves and a hose panicle. 



S. AVENACEA, L. Black Oat-Gra?s. 



Culm slender, leafy at the base; leans noarly bristle-form; panicle spreading 

 somewhat one-eideJ; palca blackish, nearly as long as the pointed glumes; cicn 

 ▼ery long, naked. 



Dry or .sandy wood?. July. Culm 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves mostly radical. 6 te- 

 8 inches long. Par.iclc neduing. Awn. 2 to 3 inches long. 



13. AltlSTIDA, Linn. Triple- awned Grass. 



An ancient L .tin name, from ariUz, a beard or awn. 



Eloweks stipitatc. Glumes unequal, often bristle- 

 pointed. Lower, paleje tipped with a triple awn ; the up- 

 per much smaller. Scales 2 f entire, smooth. — Annuals or 

 perennial*, with branching culms, narrow, often involute leaves, and 

 racemed parades. 



1. A. diciiotoma, Michx. Poverty Grass. 



Cuhns in tuft?, much fork-branched; spilelets in short »eontrr.cted racemes ;- 

 flower rather shorter than the glumes; lattral awns very short, the middle net 

 longer than the pali.ee, lent down. 



Sterile Foil?. Aug. Ann. Cidm 5 to 13 inehe3 high. Leaves flat, very slender, 

 emoothish. Racemes on club-sh?.p<d peduncle* 



%. A. purptjrascens, Poir. Purple Three-aicncd Grass. 



Culms mostly sample, filiform, erect; leaves very narrow, flat; panicle spiked, 

 densely flowered ; awn/ nearly equal, 3 or 4 times the length of the paleae, the 

 middle one rather longest. 



Sandy fields and woods. Sept. Fer. Culm 2 to 3 feet high, clothed with long, 

 smooth leaves below, l'anide 1 foot long, purple, 



14. SPARTINA, Schreber. Cord or Marsh Grass; 



Gr. spar'Jna, a cord; on account of its long and tough leaves. 



Spikelets imbricate,. 1-flowered, much compressed. 

 Glumes and paleje unequal, awuless. Stamens 3. Styles 

 long, mostly united below. — Perennials, 2cith simple ar.d 

 rigid reed like culms, long and tough leaves, very smooth sheaths, 

 and racemed spikes. 



1. S. CYNCSUROEDE3, Willd. Fresh-water Cord- Grass. 



L&axxs very long, filiform at the end, keeled flat, at length convolute ; tpikesb to 

 40, scattered, spreading: glumes awn-pointed; style 2-cleft at the summit. 



Banks of streams and marshes. Aug. Culm 3 to 8 feet high, smooth, terete. 

 Leax+i 2 to 4 feet long, Harrow. Spiku linear, 3 or 3 inches long, straw-colo» 



