590 ORDER CXLIT. GRAMINACE.fi. 



Genus XXIX.— MEL'ICA. L. 



(From meli, honey.) 



Glumes 2, unequal, 2-flowered. Palece 2, unequal ; upper 

 florets sterile. 



1. M. specio'sa, (Muhl.) (if. glabra, Mich.) Stem erect, terete, gla- 

 brous. Leaves linear, with long sheaths. Flowers in paniculate ra- 

 cemes ; racemes 3 — 5-flowered. Glumes shorter than the paleae ; the 

 interior palea ciliate. — If. April — May. Middle Carolina and Geo. 

 2 — 3 feet. 



2. M. diffu'sa, (L.) Stem erect, pubescent. Panicles diffuse, branch- 

 ing; flowers acute. — Virginia and southward. 



3. M. Muhlenber'gia, (Schult.) Ligule short, hairy. Panicle sim- 

 ple, contracted ; raceme 6-flowered ; florets nodding ; glumes, one ob- 

 tuse, the other acute, glabrous. — Carolina and Geo. 



Genus XXX.— BRI'ZA. L. 



Glumes 2, many- flowered. Flowers imbricate, in two rows. 

 Palece ventricose ; lower one embracing the upper. Seed 

 beaked. Panicle compound, loose, with pendulous branches. 



1. B. eragros'tis, (L.) Stem decumbent, geniculate, glabrous. Leaves 

 scabrous on the upper surface, linear-lanceolate; sheaths shorter than 

 the joints, bearded at the throat. Panicle compound ; spikelets cor- 

 date at the base. Flowers numerous ; exterior palea 3-nerved, acute, 

 the interior one ciliate along the nerves. — 0. June — Nov. Cultiva- 

 ted lands. Very common. 12 — 18 inches. 



Genus XXXI— DAC'TYLIS. L. (Orchard-grass.) 

 (From daktulis, a finger's breadth ; the allusion not apparent) 



Glumes 2, many-flowered, unequal, the larger one keeled. 

 Palece 2, without awns, lanceolate ; lower one mucronate, the 

 upper one bifid. Spikelets clustered into a 1 -seeded head. 



1. D. glomera'ta, (L.) Stem erect, glabrous. Leaves linear, scabrous ; 

 sheath scabrous. Panicle secund, clustered. Glumes lanceolate, 2 — 4- 

 flowered. Palea*. with the keel ciliate. — U ■ June — July. In fields. 

 2—3 feet. 



Genus XXXII.— FESTU'CA. L. 

 (An ancient Latin name.) 



Glumes 2, unequal, many-flowered. Palece 2, lanceolate ; 

 outer one acuminate or awned. Panicle usually compound. 



1. F. rig'ida, (Kunth.) (Poa rigida, L.) Stem assurgenr, glabrous, 

 rigid. Leaves subulate, glabrous. Panicle secund ; spikelets linear- 

 lanceolate, 3 — 5 — 7-flowered. Glumes keeled. Palece rounded, tinged 

 with purple. — U- April — May. Dry soils. 2 — 4 inches. 



2. F. myu'ku9, (L.) Stem erect, geniculate at the base, glabrous. 

 Leaves subulate scabrous on the margins ; sheaths much longer than 



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