GENERA OF GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 
47 
belong two common annual weeds, Eragrostis cUianensis (All.) Link 
(E. megastachya (Koel.) Link, E. major Host), a disagreeable smell- 
ing grass (fig. 15) with rather compact panicles of large spikelets 
(3 mm. wide) , the keels of the lemmas glandular dotted, and E. caro- 
liniana (Spreng.) Scribn., with open panicles of small spikelets 
(about 1.5 mm. wide). 
Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees (fig. 16) is a perennial with 
handsome purple open panicles, which at maturity separate from the 
plant and tumble before the wind. 
Eragrostis hypnoides (Lam.) B. S. P. is a spreading dioecious 
annual found on sandy river banks. Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) Link 
(fig. 17) and E. amabilis (L.) Wight and Am. (E. flvmbosa Link) 
are tropical annuals that extend into the Gulf States. They have 
conspicuously ciliate paleas and disarticulating rachilla. A common 
perennial species in sandy soil from Kansas to Texas is E, secundiflora 
Presl (E. oxylepis Torr.) with contracted purple panicles, the rachilla 
disarticulating and the florets falling separately. 
In general, the species of Eragrostis have little forage value. 
11. Catabeosa Beauv. 
Spikelets mostly 2 -flowered, the florets somewhat distant, the 
rachilla disarticulating above the glumes and between the florets; 
glumes unequal, shorter than the lower floret, flat, nerveless, irregu- 
larly toothed at the broad truncate apex ; lemmas broad, prominently 
3-nerved, the nerves parallel, the broad apex scarious; palea about 
as long as the lemma, broad, scarious at the apex. 
Aquatic perennials, with creeping bases, flat soft blades, and open 
panicles. Species seven, in northern Eurasia and North America, 
extending south to New Brunswick and Colorado ; one in Chile. 
Type species : Aira aquatica L. 
Catabrosa Beauv., Ess. Agrost. 97, pi. 19, f. 8. 1812. The species illustrated 
is C. aquatica. Another name mentioned is a nomen nudum. 
Catabrosa aquatica (L.) Beauv. (fig. 18) is found in mountain 
meadows around springs and watercourses. It is an unimportant 
forage grass. 
12. Molinia Schrank. 
Spikelets 2 to 4 flowered, the florets distant, the rachilla disarticu- 
lating above the glumes, slender, prolonged beyond the upper floret, 
and bearing a rudimentary floret; glumes somewhat unequal, acute, 
shorter than the first lemma, 1-nerved ; lemmas membranaceous, nar- 
rowed to an obtuse point, 3-nerved ; palea bowed out below, equaling 
or slightly exceeding the lemma. 
