350 GRASS FAMILY 



2. Spikelets in an open raceme or panicle, on spread- 

 ing and somewhat drooping stalks D. calif or nice 



Deschampsia Beauvois 1812 Hair Grass 



(Named for Deslongschamps, a French botanist) 



PL 46, fig. 10. 



Spikelets 2-flowered, in close or open panicles, the hairy axis extended 

 beyond the flower ; glumes 2, keeled, acute, sometimes enclosing the spikelet ; 

 lemma toothed, with an awn on the back, palet narrow, 2-nerved ; perennial. 



1. Glumes longer than and enclosing the spikelet; 



panicle narrow, 1-2 in. long D. atropurpurea 



2. Glumes shorter than the spikelet and not en- 



closing it D. caespitosa 



Digitaria Scopoli 1772 Finger Grass 



(Syntherisma Walter) 



(Lat. digitus, finger, from the grouping of the spikes) 



PL 46, fig. 31. 



Spikelets 1-flowered, in pairs or in 3's on 1-sided spikes which are 

 digitate and terminal ; spikes often purplish ; glumes 2, sterile lemma 2 or 1 ; 

 lemma and palet enclosing a perfect flower ; annual. 



1. Spikelets 2-3 mm. long; lower glume tiny, usu- 



ally present ; upper glume about 1 mm. long D. sanguindlis 



2. Spikelets about 2 mm. long ; lower glume usually 



wanting; upper glume about 2 mm. long D. linearis 



Diplaciine Beauvois 1812 

 (Gr. diploos, double, achne, bristle) 



Spikelets 5-10-fiowered, in an open panicle; glumes unequal, acute, 

 keeled; lemma 2-toothed and short-awned between the teeth, 1-3 nerved, 

 palet 2-nerved ; perennial. 

 Stems 1-3 ft. high; panicle 4-12 in. long ; spikelet 6-10 



mm. long D. fasciculdris 



Distichlis Rafinesque 1819 Salt Grass 



(Gr. di, two, stichos, rank, row) 



PL 45, fig. 23. 



Spikelets 6-16-flowered, in a spike-like panicle, dioecious, flattened; 

 glumes narrow, acute, keeled; lemma broader than the glumes, acute, palet 

 2-keeled ; perennial. 



Stems .5-2 ft. high; panicle 1-3 in. long; spikelets 8- 

 D. spiedta 20 mm. long 



