62 Kansas State boabd of Agbicultube. 



Phleum, L. — A small genus of annual and perennial grasses, with the flowers crowded into a dense, 

 harsh spike. The spikelets are one-flowered in small clusters. The outer glumes are one-nerved and 

 mucronate, or short awned. The flowering glume is membranaceous, shorter and broader than the 

 outer glumes. The palet is hyaline and narrow. 



60. Timothy; Heed's Gbass; Cat's-tail Geass; Phleum pratense, L. — This in- 

 troduced grass, (but apparently also indigenous,) with its simple, erect stems and 

 elongated, cylindrical, dense spike, is easy of recognition. It is so well known as to 

 need no further description. It is one of the most valuable of all our grasses. 

 (Plate No. 66.) 



Alopecurus, L.— A small genus of grasses, a few inches to 2 or 3 feet high, having the flowers 

 crowded into a cylindrical dense spike. The spikelets are one-flowered, and have the outer glumes 

 strongly compressed, boat-shaped, keeled, nearly equal and frequently united at the base. The flower- 

 ing glume is shorter, keeled, and furnished with a slender awn on the back. The palet is absent. 



67. Alpine Fox-tail; Alopecurus alpinus, Sw. — A perennial grass, with smooth 

 erect stems, 6 inches to a foot high. The outer glumes are covered on the back with 

 long dense white hairs. Not valuable, and perhaps not occurring in the State. 



68. Meadow Fox-tail; Alopecurus pratensis, L. — The culm is upright, smooth, 

 and about 2 feet high. The flowering glume equals the outer glume. The awn is 

 from Europe, and frequently found in meadows, especially in the Eastern States. 



69. Watee Fox-tail; Alopecurus geniculatus, L. — The stems are ascending, and 

 bent at the lower joints. The flowering glume is rather shorter than the outer glume; 

 the awn from near its base projects half its length beyond. It grows in wet places, 

 and contributes but slightly to the native forage. 



70. Shoet-bearded Fox-tail; Alopecurus aristulatus, Mx. — Similar to the last, 

 but easily distinguished by the glaucous stems and short awn, which scarcely exceeds 

 the palet. 



Sporobolus, R. Br.— A genus (including also the old genus Vilfa) of annual. and perennial grasses 

 with the one to two-flowered spikelets in a contracted or open panicle. The outer glumes are unequal, 

 the lower one shorter, often acute, unawned, one to three-nerved and membranaceous. The flowering 

 glume is mostly longer and unawned. The palet is prominently two-nerved, of the same texture as 

 the flowering glume, and about equaling it. 



71. Smut Geass; Sporobolus Indicus, R. Br. — This grass grows in tufts or loose 

 patches, is 1^ to 3 feet high, has many long, flat, fine-pointed leaves, and a terminal 

 panicle (sometimes a foot long) which is composed of short, erect, closely-flowered 

 branches. The spikelets are less than a line long. This grass is a native of India, 

 and very abundant further south. It is supposed to be a grass of some value. 



72. Rough Drop-seed Geass; Sporobolus asper, Kunth. — A perennial, tufted 

 grass, 2 to 4 feet high. The leaves are very long, rigid, rough on the edges, and 

 tapering to a long thread-like point. The sheaths at first partly or wholly inclose 

 the contracted panicle. The spikelets are 2 to 3 lines long. Not an important 

 grass. 



73. Deop-seed Geass; Sporobolus vaginoeflorus, Torr. — This small (6 to 12 inches 

 high) annual has narrow leaves and single or spiked panicles — the lateral ones (and 

 often the terminal one) inclosed in the sheaths. It is not abundant enough to be 

 important. 



74. Deop-seed Geass; Sporobolus cuspidatus, Torr. — This grass is perennial, has 

 very narrow stems and leaves, and a very simple, narrow, exserted panicle. The 

 outer glumes are very acute, and the flowering one cuspidate. Grows farther north, 

 but reported also in Kansas. Perhaps not valuable. 



75. Deop-seed Grass; Sporobolus depauperatus, Torr. — A variable tufted grass, 

 3 inches to 2 feet long, often much branched. The panicle is h to 2 inches long, 

 very narrow, consisting of a few solitary distant rays. The outer glumes are obtuse. 

 Not known to be important. 



