1 



264 MONOCOTYLODENOtS. 



Sub-Class III. GLUMACEiE. 



Flowers destitute of a true perianth, the floral envel- 

 ops consisting of imbricated bracts, which are alternate 

 instead of verticillate, as in all preceding flowers. 



Order CXXII. GRAMINE^. 



Flowers usually perfect, sometimes monoecious or polyga- 

 mous, the exterior floral envelops called glumes, the interior 

 ones palem, and the innermost at the base of the ovary, scales. 

 Glumes usually 2, sometimes single, usually unequal. PalecB 

 2, the exterior one simple ; the interior or uppermost usually 

 keeled. Scales 2 or 3, sometimes wanting. Stamens hypo- 

 gynous, 1-6. Anthers versatile. Ovary simple. Styles 2, 

 rarely 1, or 3. .S^i^wias hairy, or plumose. Albumen farina- 

 ceous. Embryo on one side of the albumen. Culms cylin- 

 drical, fistular, jointed. Leaves with a split sheath. 



{a) AgrastidecB, 



//iroZifcre panicled. /Spz'AreZeif^ solitary, 1 -flowered. Glumes 

 and PalecB of ijimilar texture, usually keeled. 



Genus I AGROSTIS. 



Glume naked beardless, 2'Valved, i-flowered ; valves longer 

 than the paleae. PulecB 2, membraneous. Stigmas longitu- 

 dinally hispid. 



1 A Arachnoides. 5'/e/ra erect, slender, glabrous. Leaves with the sheath 

 as long as the joints. S///;u/e.s lacerate. Panicle long, with capillary branch- 

 es The upper Palea awned, with the awn very slender. Stamens 1-3. 

 Styles 2. 



% April— May. Middle Car. 4-8 in. 



2 A Tenuiflora. Stem nearly simple, decumbent, terete, leafy, pubes- 

 cent about the joints. Leaves flat, scabrous. Sheaths longer than the joints. 

 Panicle filiform. Palecp longer than the glume. Awns long. 



% Aug.— Sept. Uppe'r Carolina. 3-4 ft. 



3 A SERiCEiE. Trichochloa Capillaris. S/em erect, slender. Zeaws sub- 

 ulate, glabrous, involute. Panicle long, diffu'=:e. Peduncles purple. Glume 

 shorter than the corolla, with tl.o valves awned, purple. Palece the e.xterior 

 one lanceolate, 3-awned, with the intermediate awn longest, purple, when 

 young the valve is unawned. 



% Sept.— Oct. Common. 2-3 ft. 



4 A Trichopodes. >Stem erect, glabrous. Leaves flat, scabrous. Sheath 

 glabrous, with long stipules. Panicle difiuse. Peduncles capillary, long. 

 Glumes much shorter than the paleae. The exterior palea with a short, 

 straight awn, the interior longest. 



% Sept.— Oct. Common. 2-3 ft. 



5 A Decumbens. Stem geniculate, decumbent, branching, taking root at 

 the joints, heaves flat, scabrous. ^Stipules ovate, membranous. Panicle 



