68 Bulletin VII. 1. 



Spikelets crowded, one line long or less. Empty glumes ovate- 

 lanceolate acute, mucronate, or subaristate-pointed, nearly equal, 

 one-fourth to one-half shorter than the flowering glume; flowering 

 glume ovate-lanceolate, three-nerved, short mucronate, scabrous 

 on the back, short-pilose toward the base and on the callus; palea 

 as long as the flowering glume. Near Nashville, Harpeth hills, 

 etc., in open rocky woods, probably common. August — September. 

 Apparently cf little or no agricultural value. 



4- Muhlenbergia Mexicana Trin. Mexican Drop-seed. 



Plate XXI. Figure 83. 



An upright or ascending, usually much-branched perennial one 

 to three feet high, with a scaly creeping root-stock, numerous flat 

 leaves and contracted densely-flowered panicles Sheaths longer or 

 shorter than the internodes, smooth; ligule one-half a line long or 

 less; leaf-blade one to three lines wide, two to seven inches long. 

 Spikelets about one line long on very short pedicels; empty glumes 

 nearly equal, acuminate-pointed, about the length of the floral 

 glume (a little shorter or sometimes a little longer;, scabrous on 

 the keel; flowering glume lanceolate, acute or mucronate-pointed, 

 three-nerved, pilose near the base and on the callus. Palea a little 

 shorter than its glume, very acute. 



This species is similar in character to M. glomeraia, but is usually 

 more-branched and the panicle is less rigid and not so densely 

 flowered. It grows in sandy or rocky soil along the borders of 

 thickets, sometimes doing good service by binding sandy river- 

 banks subject to wash, by its strong creeping rhizomes. July — 

 August. 



5. Muhlenbergia sylvatica Torr. and Gray. 



Plate XXI. Figure 84. 



A perennial, usually much-branched grass two to three feet 

 high, with strong scaly root-stocks, flat leaves and narrow densely- 

 flowered panicles two to six inches long. Sheaths usually shorter 

 than the internodes, smooth; ligule very short; leaf-blade three to 

 six inches long, one to two lines wide, abruptly sharp-pointed. 

 Panicle lanceolate, or linear (in var. gracilis)^ green, varying to 

 purple. Spikelets about one line long, equalling or exceeding the 

 pedicels; empty glumes equal, lanceolate-acuminate, one-nerved, 

 one-half as long or about equalling the flowering glume; flower- 

 ing glume three-nerved, pilose toward the base, scabrous above 

 and terminating in a slender awn two to six lines long. Palea as 

 long as the floral glume (exclusive of the awn), two-nerved, scab- 

 rous toward the apex. 



Damp woodlands, river bottoms, etc. ; common. Of no recognized 

 agricultural value. 



6. Muhlenbergia Willdenovii Trin. 



Plate XXII. Figure 85. 

 An erect, simple or sparingly-branched perennial one and one- 

 half to three feet high, with creeping scaly rhizomes, flat leaves, and 



