46 TRIANDRIA, DIGYNIA. 



virginica, C. spikes oblong, thick, and lobed, generally sheath- 

 Nuttaii. e( j j-jy t he inflated vaginae of 2 short leaves j culm 



procumbent, geniculate, nodes numerous, approx- 

 imating ; leaves involute, rigid, and pungent ; 

 calix carinate, shorter than the corolla. 



Leaves short, filiform subulate, rigid and divaricate, almost 

 entirely smooth, and somewhat glaucous ; culm decumbent 

 branched from the base ; spikes closely sheathed, axillary and 

 terminal, about an inch long, sometimes oblong-ovate, lateral 

 spikes often very short and roundish, rachis thick and angular 

 at the base ; calix nearly equal, compressed carinate, acute, 

 shorter than the corolla, ciliate on the carina (seen through a 

 lens) ; corolla valves often rather unequal, inner valve some- 

 what obtuse, naked at the base ; style exserted, long. Nutt. 



I first detected this plant growing in the streets of the su- 

 burbs, and vacant corner lots of this city, and gave specimens, 

 in 1816, to Mr. Collins, and subsequently to Mr. Nuttall, who 

 has described it as above. Since the year 1816, I have found 

 it more abundantly in this neighbourhood, on the turnpike 

 road-sides, and in the crevices of pavements and stony ways . 

 It comes very near to Cripsis aculeata, of Europe, compared 

 with specimens in my herbarium; but the leaves are not pun- 

 gent. It is, however, a distinct species, but is certainly not 

 Agrostis virginica of Willd. and Pursh ; for the specimens in 

 my possession of this latter plant, marked by Schrader, are 

 not spiked ; but bear their flowers in a dense narrow panicle. 

 Indeed it it is entirely unlike the A. virginica, in every respect ; 

 as Mr. Nuttall has acknowledged, on seeing my specimens, 

 since the printing of his work, and, though the specific appella- 

 tion Virginica, was added by Mr. Nuttall, under the impi'es- 

 sion that the plant in question, and Agrostis Virginica, were 

 the same, I have not thought it expedient to change it. Pro- 

 bably introduced . Perennial. July, August. 



44. Phleum, Gen. pi. 128. ( Graminea . J 



Calix 2-valved, 1 -flowered, valves linear with 

 a retuse point, prominently carinate, each 

 terminating in a cusp (or short awn). Corolla 

 included within the calix. NutU 



pratense. 1. P. spike cylindrical, very long, ciliate ; stem 

 erect. Sp. pi. 



Icon. Host. Gram. 2. t. 31. (Pursh.) 



Timothy -grass. 



