20 THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 



5. Sporobolus cuspid atus, Torrey. 

 Spo-rob' ' -o-lus cus-pi-da'-tus. 



Common Names. None. 



This grass has a slender, erect stem, from six to twelve inches high. 

 The glumes are very acute and much shorter than the flowering 

 glume and palea. These last are nearly equal in length, but the 

 flowering glume is tipped with a sharp, stiff point (cuspidate). 



This species was found at St. Francis, in Northern Maine, by Miss 

 Kate Furbish of Brunswick. It is too small and fine to be of any 

 great value to farmers. 



6. Sporobolus serotinus, Gray. 

 Spo-rob' -o-lus ser-ot'-i-nus. 



Common Name. Late-Flowering Sporobolus. 



Stems very slender and erect, from eight to fifteen inches high. 

 Spikelets very minute (scarcely half a line long), on very fine branch- 

 lets. Glumes ovate and obtuse, about half the length of the flow- 

 ering glume. 



This very delicate grass grows in sandy, wet places, and flowers 

 in September. It is of no especial agricultural value. 



Genus Agrostis, Linneus. 

 A-gros'-tis. 



From the Greek, agros, a field, in allusion to the place of growth. 



Spikelets one-flowered, and arranged in a spreading or contracted 

 panicle. Glumes nearly equal, the lower one rather longer than the 

 upper ; the flowering glume is rather shorter than the lower glumes, 

 and in some species has a short awn on the back. The palea is 

 often minute and sometimes wanting. Four species of Agrostis are 

 known to grow in this State and they are all of greater or less value. 



7. Agrostis perennans, Tuckerman. 



A-gros'-tis pe-ren'-nans. 



Common Name. Thin-Grass. 



Stem erect, from a bent joint near the base, from one to two feet 

 high. Panicle spreading, pale green ; the branches short, divided 



