GRAMINEAE. 1 57 



3. Elymus hirsutiglumis Scribn. & Sm. Strict Wild-Rye. (I. F. f. 535a.) 

 Culms erect from a perennial root, 3-9 dm. tall; sheaths longer than the internodes, 

 the uppermost often inflated and enclosing the base of the spike; leaves 2-3 dm. 

 long, 8-18 mm. wide, acuminate, very rough on both surfaces ; spikes 6-15 cm. 

 long, stout, the rachis pubescent; spikelets crowded, in pairs, 2-5 -flowered; empty 

 scales linear, 1-1.2 cm. long, thick, 3-5-nerved, the nerves hirsute, acuminate into 

 a scabrous awn as long as or shorter than the scale; flowering scales lanceolate. 

 5 -nerved, appressed-hirsute, 8-10 mm. long, acuminate into a rough awn 1.2- 1.6 

 cm. long. River banks. Me. to Va., west to 111. and Neb. July-Aug. 



4. Elymus Canadensis L. Nodding Wild-rye. (I. F. f. 535.) Culms 

 6-15 dm. tall; leaves 1-3 dm. long or more, 4-20 mm. wide, rough, sometimes 

 glaucous; spike 1-3 dm. in length, rather slender, nodding, its peduncle much ex- 

 serted; spikelets divergent from the rachis, 3-5 -flowered; empty scales awl-shaped, 

 rigid, 3-5-nerved, 1.6-3.2 cm. long, including the long slender rough awns* flow- 

 ering scales 8-14 mm. long, nearly smooth to hirsute, bearing a slender scabrous 

 straight or divergent awn 2-5 cm. in length. On river banks, N. S. and N. B. to 

 Alberta, south to Ga., Tex. and N. Mex. Ascends to 630 m. in Va. July-Aug. 



5. Elymus robustus Scribn. & Sm. Stout Wild-rye. (I. F. f. 535b.) 

 Culms erect, stout, 9-12 dm. tall; sheaths smooth or slightly roughened; leaves 

 firm, very rough on both surfaces, 1-4 dm. long, 8-20 mm. wide, acuminate; spike 

 usually partially included at the base, stout, strict, 1-2.5 dm. l° n g> compact, the 

 rachis usually glabrous except on the angles; spikelets numerous, crowded, in 2's- 

 4's, 3-4-flowered; empty scales subulate, 1-1.2 cm. long, bearing an awn about 

 twice as long; flowering scales lanceolate, 1-1.2 cm. long, 2 -toothed at the apex, 

 from sparsely to densely appressed-pubescent, bearing a straight or curving awn 

 3-4.5 cm. long. River banks. 111. to Mont., south to Kans. 



6. Elymus glaucus Buckl. Smooth Wild-rye. (I. F. f. 536.) Culms 6-15 

 dm. tall; sheaths rarely pubescent; leaves 1-3 dm. long, 4-16 mm. wide, smooth 

 beneath, sometimes rough above; spike 7.5-20 cm. in length, narrow, slender; 

 spikelets appressed to the rachis. 3-6-flowered: empty scales narrowly lanceolate, 

 8-12 mm. long, acuminate or awn-pointed, rigid, 3-5-nerved; flowering scales 

 smooth or slightly rough, 1-1.2 cm. long, bearing a slender straight rough awn 

 1. 2-1. 8 cm. in length. In moist soil, Ont. to Br. Col., south to Mich., Ariz, and 

 Cal. June-Aug. 



7. Elymus Macounii Vasey. Macoun's Wild-rye. (I. F. f. 537.) Culms 

 3-9 dm. tall; leaves 5— 15 cm. long, 2-5 mm. wide, rough, especially above; spike 

 5-12.5 cm. in length, narrow, slender, often somewhat flexuous; spikelets appressed 

 to the rachis, single at each node, or the lower sometimes in pairs, 1-3-flowered; 

 empty scales (occasionally 3) awl-shaped, 3 -nerved, rough, 6-8 mm. long, bearing 

 a slender straight rough awn, 6-10 mm. in length; flowering scales 7-10 mm. 

 long, rough toward the apex, bearing a slender straight awn 6-10 mm. long. 

 Prairies, Manitoba and Assiniboia, south to Neb. and N. Mex. July-Aug. 



8. Elymus condensatus Presl. Smooth Lyme-grass. (I. F. f. 538.) 

 Culms 6-30 dm. tall; leaves 1.5-3 dm. long or more, 6-24 mm. wide, scabrous, at 

 least above; spike 1-4 dm. in length, usually stout, strict, often interrupted below, 

 sometimes compound at the base; spikelets 3-6-flowered, 2-several at each node of 

 the rachis; empty scales awl-shaped, 9-12 mm. long, i-nerved, usually rough; 

 flowering scales 8-10 mm. long, generally awn-pointed, usually rough, sometimes 

 smooth. In wet saline situations, Alberta to Br. Col., south to Neb., Ariz, and 

 C al. July-Aug. 



9. Elymus arenarius L. Downy Lyme-grass. Sea Lyme-grass. (I. P. f. 

 539-) Culms 1-2.5 m - tall, usually softly pubescent at the summit. Sheaths often 

 glaucous; leaves 7.5-30 cm. long or more, 3-10 mm. wide, flat, or becoming invo- 

 lute, smooth beneath, rough above; spike 7.5-25 cm. in length, usually strict; 

 spikelets 3-6-flowered, frequently glaucous; empty scales 1. 6-2. 8 cm. long, 3-5- 

 nerved, acuminate, more or less villous; flowering scales 1.6-2 cm. long, acute or 

 awn-pointed, 5-7-nerved, usually very villous. On shores, Greenland and Lab. 

 to the N. W. Terr, and Alaska, south to N. H., Lake Superior and Wash. Also 

 in Europe and Asia. Summer. 



