38 BULLETIN 772, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
and on interior alkali soil of the cool and arctic regions of the 
Northern Hemisphere; about 12 species in the United States, on 
the Atlantic coast south to Delaware, on the Pacific coast south to 
Point Reyes, and in the western interior south to New Mexico. 
Type species: Poa distans L. 
Puccinellia Pari., Fl. Ital. 1: 366. 1848. Parlatore describes 4 species, P. 
distans (L.) Pari., P. festucaeformis (Host) Pari., P. gussonii Pari., and P. 
maritima (Huds.) Pari. The first is selected as the type. 
Atropis Rupr., in Griseb. in Ledeb. Fl. Ross. 4: 388. 1853. Based upon Poa, 
section Atropis Rupr., 1 of which the type and only species is Poa distans L. 
Puccinellia differs from Poa in the rounded lemmas with indistinct 
and parallel nerves. The species are mostly confined to the brackish 
marshes of the coast. One species, Puccinellia nuttalliana (Schult.) 
Hitchc. (P. airoides (Nutt.) Wats, and Coult.) (fig. 10), is common 
in alkaline soils of the interior from Minnesota to Washington and 
south to New Mexico. This species furnishes considerable forage 
where it is common. 
7. Fluminea Fries. 
(Scolochloa Link.) 
Spikelets 3 to 4 flowered, the rachilla disarticulating above the 
glumes and between the florets ; glumes nearly equal, somewhat scari- 
ous and lacerate at summit, the first 3-nerved, the second 5-nerved, 
about as long as the first lemma ; lemmas firm, rounded on the back, 
villous on the callus, 7-nerved, the nerves rather faint and unequal, 
extending into a scarious lacerate apex; palea narrow, flat, about 
as long as the lemma. 
Tall perennials, with succulent rhizomes, flat blades, and spread- 
ing panicles. Species two, one in eastern Siberia, the other in north- 
ern Eurasia and northern North America, extending south to Iowa. 
Type species : Festuca borealis Mert. and Koch. 
Scolochloa Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 136, 1827, not Scolochloa Mert. and Koch. 
1823. Based on Arundo festucacea Willd. (Scolochloa festucacea Link), the 
only species described. Scolochloa Mert. and Koch is based on Arundo don-ax L. 
Fluminea Fries, Summa Veg. Scand. 247. 1846. Based on Festuca borealis. 
A single species is included, its name being given as "Festuca borealis 
or Fluminea arund&nacea" This is the same as Scolochloa festucacea. 
Our single species, Fluminea festucacea (Willd.) Hitchc. (Arundo 
festucacea Willd., Graphephorum festucaceum Gray, Scolochloa fes- 
tucacea (Willd.) Link) (fig. 11), is a marsh grass found from Iowa 
and Minnesota northward. It has some value for forage and is often 
a constituent of marsh hay. 
8. Poa L., the bluegrasses. 
Spikelets 2 to several flowered, the rachilla disarticulating above 
the glumes and between the florets, the uppermost floret reduced or 
rudimentary; glumes acute, keeled, somewhat unequal, the first 
iBeitr. Pflanzenk. Russ. Reich. 2: 61. 1845 (Fl. Samoj. Cis.). 
