96 Bulletin VII. 1. 



2. Eragrostis Frankii Meyer. Short-stalked Meadow-grass. 



Plate XXXII. Figure 125. 



A low, diffusely-branched annual, three to fifteen inches high. 

 Sheaths pilose at the throat; ligule less than a line long, lacerated; 

 leaf blade three-fourths to two lines wide, one to seven inches long, 

 flat or conduplicate toward the apex. Panicle ovate or oblong, 

 with spreading, capillary branches and pedicels, the latter mostly 

 longer than the spikelets. Spikelets ovate, about one line long, 

 three- to five-flowered; empty glumes spreading, lanceolate, acute, 

 scabrous on the keel, about half a line long; flowering glume ovate, 

 acute, obscurely three-nerved. Keels of the palea scabrous. Grain 

 short, oblong. Remarkable for its strong, disagreeable odor when 

 fresh. 



Common in low sandy grounds. July— September. Of no agri- 

 cultural value. 



3. Eragrostis capillaris >^ees. 



Plate XXXII. Figure 128. 



An erect annual six to twenty-four inches high, branching at the 

 base, the widely-expanding panicle usually much longer than the 

 culm below it. Sheaths and base of leaves more or less hairy, 

 sometimes glabrous; ligule a minute fringe of hairs; leaf-blade 

 four to twelve inches long, three-fourths of a line to two lines 

 wide. Spikelets three- to five-flowered, a line or less long; empty 

 lilumes about one-half a line long, equal, hispid on the keel, acute; 

 flowering glume ovate-lanceolate, acute, obscurely three-nerved, 

 about two-thirds of a line long. Palea rough-ciliate on the keels. 

 •Grain nearly spherical. The spreading panicle-branches and long 

 diverging pedicels capillary. 



Common in dry sandy fields and frequent by roadsides. Of no 

 economic value. 



4. Eragrostis pilosa Beauv. Slender Meadow-grass. 



Plate XXXII. Figure 127. 



A slender, branching annual six to eighteen inches high, with 

 narrow, flat leaves and a capillary open panicle. Sheaths smooth, 

 hairy at the throat; ligule a fringe of short hairs; leaf-blade two 

 to eight inches long, slender pointed. Panicle three to ten inches 

 long, rather narrow at first, the branches four to eight at the 

 lower node of the main axis, fewer above, all spreading in fruit, 

 axils usually but not constantly pilose. Spikelets one to four lines 

 long, linear, five- to fifteen-flowered, lead-colored or often purp- 

 lish^'about equalling their more or less spreading pedicels; empty 

 o-lumes ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, rarely acute, about one-half aline 

 fong; flowering glumes ovate, obtuse, the lateral nerves very faint 

 or obsolete, about three-fourths of a line long. Palea scabrous on 

 the keels. Grain linear-oblong. 



Distinguished from E. Purshii by the narrower and more spread- 

 ing spikelets, absence of lateral nerves on the flowering glumes, 

 and more numerous primary branches at each node of the main 

 rachis of the panicle. Common in dry, sandy soil. July— September. 



