84 Bulletin VII. 1. 



four to five lines long, the second glume larger than the first, 

 three-nerved and about equalling the florets. Awn geniculate 

 near the middle, closely twisted below, divergent above. Grain 

 pubescent, enclosed within the fruiting glume and palea, but free 

 from them. 



A highly valued grass, both for winter grazing and for hay. It 

 has been introduced into this country from Europe, where it is 

 regarded as one of the best fodder grasses. As it stands in rather 

 loose tufts, it is best to mix the seed with that of other grasses 

 in order to thicken the sward. It grows rapidly, blooms early, 

 and when cut, dries out readily, and when dry, keeps well. It is 

 not regarded as a suitable grass for moist soils. 



33. DANTHONIA D. C, Flor. Franc, iii: 32 (1805.) 



Spikelets several-flowered, uppermost flower imperfect or rudi- 

 mentar}^ rachilla articulated above the empty glumes. Empty 

 glumes two, longer than th% flowering glumes, which are rounded 

 on the back, two-toothed or bifid at the apex, and awned between 

 the teeth; awn formed by the extension of the three middle 

 nerves of the glume. Inflorescence a simple, spreading or narrow 

 panicle. 



Species about one hundred, in the temperate and warmer re- 

 gions of both hemispheres, especially numerous in South Africa, 

 North American species six, three of which come within our 

 limits. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



I. Teeth of the flowering glumes short and acute, callus naked 

 or nearly so 2. D. spicata. 



1. Teeth of the flowering glumes long subulate-pointed, callus 



distinctly hairy 2 



2. Leaves of the culm longer than the glabrous sheaths . . . 



3 D. COMPRESSA. 



2. Leaves of the culm shorter than the pubescent sheaths , . 



I D. SERICEA. 



I. Danthonia sericea Nutt. Silky Oat-grass. 



Plate XXVIIL Figure 112. 



A rather stout, erect grass, one to three feet high, with usually 

 pubescent sheaths, rather rigid leaves, and large spikelets in ter- 

 minal panicles. Culms smooth or a little pubescent at the nodes 

 Sheaths densely pubescent, at least in the upper part, very rarely 

 glabrous; ligule a fringe of hairs; culm leaves two to four inches 

 long, two lines wide or less, strigose-pubescent above, sparingly 

 pilose beneath; basal leaves often ten to twenty inches long, 

 usually involute, more or less curling or flexuose and tough. Pani- 

 cle two to four inches long, simple, the few-flowered branches 

 erect or ascending. Empty glumes lanceolate, six to nine lines 

 long, exceeding the florets; flowering glumes about three lines 

 long, rounded and thinly pilose on the back, densely silky bearded 



