alopecurus GRAMINE^) 741 



scabrous, sometimes hispid below: flowering glume equalling or exceeding 

 the outer ones, smooth, the awn inserted near the base, about twice its 

 length. In waste places and ballast grounds, introduced from Europe. • 



A, geniculates L. Sp. 60. Stems slender, 6-18 inches high, erect with 

 decumbent geniculate base, simple or sparingly branched, smooth : sheaths 

 usually shorter than the internodes, loose or somewhat inflated : ligules 

 1-3 lines long: leaves 1-6 inches long, %-2 lines wide, scabrous, especially 

 above : panicle 1-3 inches long, %-2 lines thick : empty glumes slightly 

 united at base, 1-1% lines long, obtuse or subacute, glabrous except on the 

 pubescent lateral nerves and strongly ciliate keel: flowering glume some- 

 what shorter, obtuse, glabrous, the awn inserted at or below the middle, 

 equalling or exceeding it. Common in wet places, California to Alaska 

 and across the continent. 



Var. robustus Vasey Bull. Torr. Bot. Club xv, 13. Stems 20-30 

 inches long, sometimes branched : leaves flat, hispid above, 3-6 inches 

 long, 2-3 lines wide. In the mountains, Washington to Alaska. 



A. pratensis L. Sp. 60. Stems slender 12-30 inches high, simple, erect : 

 sheaths usually much shorter than the internodes, loose or somewhat in- 

 flated : ligules about % line long, erose-truncate : leaves 2-4 inches long, 

 1-3 lines wide, scabrous, at least above : panicle 1-3 inches long : 4-6 lines 

 wide: outer glumes, united at base for about % their length, 2-3 lines 

 long, acute, glabrous except the sparingly pubescent lateral nerves and 

 the strongly ciliate keel: flowering glume slightly shorter, obtuse, glabrous, 

 the awn inserted about % way from the base and surpassing it. Common 

 in cultivation and waste places : naturalized from Europe. 



A. Californicus Vasey 1. c. Stems slender, smooth, geniculate below, 

 10-15 inches long often branched: sheaths loose, the upper one inflated, 

 smooth, shorter than the internodes: ligules about 2 lines long, acute: 

 leaves 1-5 inches long, flat, hispid above: panicle cylindrical, dense, 1-2 

 inches long, %-% line thick: empty glumes oblong, obtuse, carinate slightly 

 united at base, thin, purple above, hairy on the keel, and slightly pubescent 

 the obscure lateral nerves, 1^-1% lines long : flowering glume oblong- 

 ovate, obtuse, its edges united 3j way from the base, smooth, about equal- 

 ling the lower cnes : awn arising near the base of the glume twisted, bent 

 near the middle, 2-3 lines long : palet wanting. In wet places, California 

 to the Willamette Valley Oregon and Idaho. 



A, pallescens Piper Fl. Palouse Reg. 18. A pale green smooth tufted 

 perennial: stems 16-21 inches high, erect, or slightly geniculate below: 

 sheaths shorter than the internodes, inflated, smooth: ligules scabrous, 

 13^-2 lines long : leaves flat, 3-12 inches long, 1-3 lines wide, acuminate, 

 strongly scabrous above : panicle usually well exserted, pale and silvery, 

 1-3 inches long, about 3 lines thick, erect: empty glumes nearly equal, 1-3 

 lines long, strongly ciliate on the keel, obtuse : flowering glume hyaline, 

 2-nerved, as long as the outer ones, obtuse: awn arising near the base, 

 stout bent, 3 lines long. Common in wet places about Pullman Washington. 



A. saccatns Vasey Bot. Gaz. vi, 290. Tufted, apparently annual: 

 stems erect, or slightly geniculate at base 5-10 inches high, smooth, simple : 

 sheaths rather loose, the upper one inflated, slightly roughened usually 

 shorter than the internodes : ligules membranaceous, 1% lines long : leaves 

 narrow, rough on both sides, 1 -3 inches long : empty glumes united at base, 

 ovate-oblong, barely acute, carinate, scabrous at the apex, puberulent 

 throughout, ciliate on the keel and lateral nerves, 2 lines long : flowering 

 glume broadly oblong, truncate, the margins united to the middle or 

 above, smooth except the ciliate apex, 4-nerved, 2 lines long : awn arising 

 near the base of the glume, twisted, bent 3-4 lines long: palet wanting. 

 On the margins of pools that are dry in summer, eastern base of the Cascade 

 Mountains at Barlow Gate, Oregon. 



