420 GRAMINE^E. 



naked in the axils, compound ; spikelels 5 to 12-flowered, nearly linear, flattish ; 

 flowers ovate acutish. 



Sandy soil, Aug. Ann. Culms 5 to 12 inches high, tufted. Leave* flat or in- 

 volute, bearded with long hairs at the throat. Spikelets % to y, inch long, pur- 

 plish. 



2. E. CAPILLARIS, Nees. Capillary Eragrostis. 



Panicle expanding, very compound, delicate; tbe axils naked; spikelets oblong 2 

 to 4-flowered, on loug capillary pedicels. (Poa capillaris, L.) 



Dry sandy places, common. August. Ann. Culms 12 to 18 inches high, tufted. 

 leaves linear, Hat, the sheaths fringed with long hairs. Panicle 8 to 18 inches 

 long, much branched. 



3. E. SPECTABILIS, Gray. Showy Eragrostis. 



Panicle divergently spreading, the rigid branches reflexed with age, and ab-ard- 

 ed tuft in the principal axils; spikelets oblong or linear 7 to 10 or lo-flowered ; flow- 

 ers ovate, minutely ciliate. (P. spectabilis, Pursh.) 



Sandy fields. Ang, Sept. Ann. Culm and long leaves rigid, mostly smooth ; 

 lower sheaths often downy. Panicle 1 to 2 feet long, with purplish spikelets. 



26. FESTUCA, Linn. Fescue-grass. 



An ancient Latin name. 



Spikelets oblong, 3 to many-flowered; the flowers not 

 webby at the base. Glumes unequal, mostly keeled. Pa- 

 lea chartaceous or almost coriaceous, roundish on the back, 

 acute, mucronate or awned at the summit, the upper mostly 

 adhering at maturity to the inclosed grain. Stamens most- 

 ly 3. Stigmas simply plumose. — Flowers and leaves rather 

 dry and han>h. Spikelets panicled or racemose. 



1. F. ELATIOR, L. Tall Fescue- Grass. 



Panicle branched, loose, rather spreading; spikelets crowded, 4 to 6 flowered; low- 

 er palcc nearly pointless ; flowers cylindric. 



Moist meadows and pastures. June. Per. Culm 3 to 5 feet hicrh. Leaves broad - 

 linear. 9 to 15 inches long. Panicle 6 to 10 inches long, mostly nodding. Spi 

 *4 inch loug. Introduced. 



2. F. PRATEXSIS, Hudson. Meadow Fescue- Grass. 



Pan idle simple, or sparingly branched; spikelets 5 to 10-dowered ; lower palea 

 barely acute. 



Fields and meadows, common, naturalized. June, July. Per. Culm 2 to 3 feet 

 high, without ajgneeping b .se. Leaves broad-linear, nexyed, smooch, rough on 

 the margin. Panicle i to S inches long, somewhat one-side!. 



3. F. NUTANS, Willd. Nodding Fcsciu -Grass. 



Panicle of several slender and spreading branches, mostly in pairs, drooping 

 when old, naked below, bearing near their extremity a few ovate 3 to -flowered 

 Spikelets ; flowers ovate ob'.ong, rather obtuse, close together. 



Rocky and open woods. July. Per. Culm 2 to -1 feet high, naked above. Leaves 

 broadly-linear, acuminate, dark green, often rather hairy. Panicle few-ilowered. 



4. F. rubra, L. Red or Creep iny Fescue- Grass. 



Panicle one-sided, erect, spreaiing; $h ; J:tUis somewhat terete, 5 or 6 flowered ; 

 flowers longer than their awns. 



