622 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



sessile spikes; glumes none; spikes short, 3-5-flowered, 

 the longest floiuer, or the two lower ones, neutral, of 1-2 

 palea3, the njjpermost abortive, the intermediate ones, com- 

 posed of two palea}, triandrous in the staminate, digynous 

 in the pistillate spike; j^alece convolute, scarious and ob- 

 tuse at the apex, the lower one rigid, ovate-lanceolate, 

 9-12-nerved above, the upper rather longer, 2-keeled or 

 2-winged on the back; squamulce none; anthers longer 

 than the short filaments, 2-lobed at each end; ovary 

 lanceolate-linear, 3-angled ; styles 2 ; stigmas elongated, 

 plumose with simple hairs; grain 3-angled, free. 



M. LiTTOEALis, Engelm. Low sandy shores. Culms 

 much branched, 5-8' high, smooth and somewhat woody, 

 erect, or at length prostrate and rooting ; leaves o" long, 

 very rigid, obtuse, many-nerved, rough on the margins, 

 mostly crowded at the summit of the short branches, and 

 inclosing the short (3"-4") sessile spikes; floioers pedi- 

 celed. 



