GRASSES OF OHIO 28J 



naked in the axils. Spikelets 5-15-flowered, dull purple or green; 



lemma firm, acute, the lateral nerves prominent. 

 In dry soil. August, September. General. 



5. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) Beauv. Tufted Love-gras^. An an- 

 nual grass with slender, tufted, diffusely branching stems, ] j-\ l / 2 ft. 

 high, with a decumbent or spreading base, and with a diffuse panicle 

 whose lower axils are usually sparingly bearded. Spikelets 5-18- 

 flowered, becoming linear: lemma subacute, usually purplish, the 

 lateral nerves faint. 



In waste places or cultivated ground. August, September. 

 Rather general; no specimens from the northwestern counties. 

 Naturalized. 



6. Eragrostis frankii Steud. Frank's Love-grass. An annual, 

 diffusely branched grass with tufted erect or decumbent stems, Vi-^Yi 

 ft. high and an oblong open panicle with short spreading branches. 

 Spikelets ovate, 3-5-flowered, on more or less appressed pedicels ; 

 lemma very acute ; faintly 3-nerved. 



In low or sandy places. August-October. Rather general ; no 

 specimens from the south-eastern nor from the north-western 

 counties. 



7. Eragrostis capillaris ( L. ) Nees. Capillary Love-grass. X 

 slender, erect, sparingly branched annual grass, y 2 -\ l /2 ft. high with 

 panicles more than half the entire length of the plant, oblong-ovoid 

 in shape, the capillary branches spreading or ascending. Spikelets 

 ovate, 2-4-rlowered, on long, divergent pedicels; lemma acute, faintly 

 3-nerved. Often lemon-scented. 



Considered a weed. In dry, sandy soil. August. September. 

 Ottawa, Madison, Clinton. 



8. Sphenopholis Scrib. Eaton-grass. 



Slender tufted perennials, usually with narrow terminal panicles. 

 Spikelets 2-3-rlowered, the rachilla articulated between and extended 

 beyond the flowers, the pedicels jointed just below the glumes; outer 

 empty glume linear, acute, 1 -nerved, the inner much broader, 3- 

 nerved, usually obtuse or rounded at the apex, the margins scarious ; 

 lemma chartaceous, with obscure nerves; palet narrow. 2-nerved; 

 grain free, enclosed in the rigid lemma. 



1. Empty glumes unequal, the outer shorter and about T ,, as wide as the inner. :1 



1. Empty glumes nearly equal the outer not less than ■ ,? as wide as the inner: 

 Branches of the lax panicle more or less spreading. S. nitida. 



2. Inner empty glume obovate ;* panicle narrow, densely flowered. .V. obtusata. 

 2. Inner empty glume narrowly obovate to oblanceolate ; branches of the lax 



panicle more or less spreading. .V. pallens. 



