Io8 FLORA. 



the scale and palet. [Greek, in allusion to the many long awns which resemble a 

 beard. ] About 10 species, widely distributed in temperate and warm regions, rare 

 in the tropics. 



i. Polypogon Monspeliensis (L.) Desf. Beard-grass. (I. F. f. 358.) 

 Culms 6 dm. tall or less, erect from a usually decumbent base. Leaves 3.75-15 

 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide, scabrous, especially above; panicle 2.5-10 cm. in length, 

 dense and spike-like, the branches I.25 cm. in length, ascending; spikelets crowded; 

 outer scales about 2 mm. long, obtuse, slightly bifid, scabrous, bearing a more or 

 less bent awn 4-6 mm. long; third scale much shorter, erose-truncate, hyaline, 

 bearing a delicate awn about 0.5 mm. long, inserted below the apex. In waste 

 places, N. H. to S. Car., mostly near the coast. Very abundant in western 

 N. Am., from Br. Col. to Mex. Naturalized from Europe. Native also of Asia. 

 July-Sept. 



39. ARCTAGROSTIS Griseb. 



A perennial grass with flat leaves and contracted panicle. Spikelets 1 -flow- 

 ered. Scales 3; the 2 outer empty, unequal, somewhat acute, membranous; the 

 third scale exceeding the second, subtending a palet and perfect flower, obtuse; 

 palet obtuse, 2-nerved. Stamens 2 or 3. Styles distinct, short. Stigmas plumose. 

 Grain oblong, free, enclosed in the scale and palet. Seed adherent to the pericarp. 

 [Latin, signifying an arctic Agrostis -like grass.] A monotypic genus of arctic and 

 subarctic regions. 



1. Arctagrostis latifolia (R. Br.) Griseb. Arctagrostis. (I. F. f. 359.) 

 Culms 1.5-6 dm. tall, erect, or sometimes decumbent at the base, simple, smooth 

 and glabrous. Sheaths shorter than the internodes; leaves 2.5-17.5 cm. long, 2-8 

 mm. wide, usually erect, scabrous; panicle 3.75-20 cm. long, narrow, its branches 

 1.25-5 cm. in length, ascending or erect; spikelets 3-4 mm. long; outer scales un- 

 equal, acutish, the lower about two-thirds to three-fourths the length of the upper; 

 third scale obtuse, exceeding the second, hispid on the keel. Greenland to Hud- 

 son Bay and Alaska. Also in arctic Europe and Asia. Summer. 



40. ci'nna L. 



Tall grasses with flat leaves and panicled spikelets. Spikelets I -flowered. 

 Scales 3; the 2 outer empty, keeled, acute; the third scale similar, but usually short- 

 awned on the back, subtending a palet and a stalked perfect flower; palet a little 

 shorter, 1 -nerved. Stamen 1. Styles short, distinct. Stigmas plumose. Grain 

 narrow, free, enclosed in the scale and palet. Seed adherent to the pericarp. 

 [Greek, taken from Dioscorides.] Four known species, inhabiting the temperate 

 regions of Europe and N. Am. Besides the following, another occurs in the west- 

 ern U. S. 



Panicle narrow at maturity, its filiform branches erect or drooping ; spikelets 4-5 mm. 



long ; first scale much shorter than the second. 1. C. arundinacea. 



Panicle open, its capillary branches flexuous and drooping; spikelets 3 mm. long; 



first scale about equalling the second. 2. C. latifolia. 



1. Cinna arundinacea L. Wood Reed-grass. (I. F. f. 360.) Culms 6-15 

 dm. tall, erect. Leaves 1.5-3 dm. l° n g> 4 -I 4 mm - wide, scabrous; panicle 1.5-3 dm. 

 in length, usually contracted, sometimes purple, the filiform branches erect or 

 drooping, the lower 3.75-II.25 cm. long; spikelets 4-5 mm. in length, the scale •, 

 acute, scabrous, especially on the keel, the first one shorter than the second; third 

 scale slightly exceeded or equalled by the second, usually bearing an awn about 0.5 

 nun. long from the 2-toothed apex. In moist woods and swamps, Newf. to the 

 N. W. Terr., south to N. Car., La., Mo. and Tex. Aug. -Sept. 



2. Cinna latifolia (Trev.) Griseb. SLENDER WOOD REED-GRASS. (LF.fi 

 361.) Culms 6-12 dm. tall, erect. Leaves 1-2.5 dm. long, 4-12 mm. wide, sca- 

 brous; panicle I.25-2.5 dm. in length, open, the capillary branches generally 

 spreading, flexuous and often drooping, the lower 3. 75-12. 5 cm. in length; spike- 

 lets 3 mm. long; scales scabrous, the outer acute, strongly hispid on the keel, the 

 first about equalling the second; third scale usually exceeded by the second and bear- 



