GRAMINE^E. (GRASS FAMILY.) 427 



and Oregon sastward into the Mississippi Valley ; introduced on the Atlantic 

 coast. 



2. H. jubatum, L. Stems I to 2 feet high, usually smooth throughout, 

 the margins of the leaves sometimes seahrous : spike very pale green or Btraw- 

 color, shiuiug, sometimes purplish, 2 to 4 inches long, hroader, the very slender 

 rhachis readily separating; lateral floret short-aimed: glumes ten/ long and 

 capillar;) : perfect floret 3 lines long, with an awn 2 inches long, longer than the 

 glumes and spreading. — Common westward and northward, extending east- 

 ward through the Northern States. Known as " Squirrel-tail Grass." 



48. ELYMUS, L. Lyme Grass. Wild Rye. 



* Outer glumes subulate-setaceous, shorter than the spikelet: flowering glume 



merely cuspidate. 



1. E. condensatus, Presl. Stems 2 to 6 feet high or more, with ample 

 mostly flat leaves, smooth except on the margins: spike 5 to 15 inches long, 

 dense or interrupted, simple or frequently made up of fascicled short few- 

 flowered hranches ; spikelets 3 to 6-flowered : flowering glume 5-nerved above, 

 mucronate-pointed or somewhat 3-toothed. — From Colorado and Nevada to 

 California and Oregon. 



* * Outer glumes acuminate-pointed or awned : flowering glume with an awn longer 



than itself. 



2. E. Sibirieus, L. Stems 2 to 3 feet high : leaves mostly ample, often 

 6 lines broad, glabrous or partly scabrous : spike virgate, 2 to 8 inches long, 

 often somewhat nodding above ; spikelets in pairs, 3 to several-flowered : 

 glumes linear-lanceolate, 3 to 5-nerved, pointed or short-awned : flowering glume 

 5-nerved and rough above, with an awn about l£ times its own length. — From 

 California and Oregon to Lake Superior. 



3. E. Canadensis, L. Like the last, but stouter and taller: leaves 

 rougher, sometimes glaucous : spikes stouter, somewhat loose and more nod- 

 ding above : outer glumes subulate, 3 or perhaps 4-nerved, tapering into an awn 

 shorter than itself: flowering glume rough-hairy, with a longer usually spreading 

 awn. — Across the continent. 



* * * Outer glumes very long, usually 2-parted to the base, the divisions un- 



equally 1-cleft and long-awned: flowering glumes long-awned and 2-toothed, 

 or 3-awned. 



4. E. Sitanion, Schult. Stems densely tufted, J to 2 feet high: leaves 

 and sheaths from smooth and glaucous to roughly hirsute ; leaves setaceously 

 pungent at apex, the upper one an inch or two long, its sheath often loose and 

 including the base of the spike : spike 1 to 6 inches long ; spikelets 1 to 

 5-flowered : awns of the outer glumes 1 to 3 inches long: flowering glume 

 3 lines long, its central awn equalling those of the glumes. — From Minnesota 

 to Texas and westward across the continent. Exceedingly variable, so much 

 so that the collector is apt to discover at least a " new variety " in almost every 

 locality. 



