

MANUAL OF THE GRASSES OF THE 

 UNITED STATES 



By A. S. Hitchcock, principal botanist, Division of Plant Exploration and 

 Introduction, Bureau of Plant Industry 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 1 



Uses of grasses 1 



Distribution of grasses 5 



Morphology of grasses 6 



Classification of grasses 10 



Nomenclature 12 



Common names 14 



Scope of the manual 14 



Gramineae (Poaceae), the grass family 15 



Descriptions of the subfamilies and keys to the 



tribes 16 



Subfamily 1. Festucoideae 16 



Subfamily 2. Panicoideae 17 



Descriptions of the tribes and keys to the 



genera 17 



Tribe 1. Bambuseae 17 



Tribe 2. Festuceae 17 



Tribe 3. Hordeae 20 



Tribe 4. Aveneae 21 



Tribe 5. Agrostideae 22 



Tribe 6. Zoysieae 24 



Tribe 7. Chlorideae 24 



TribeS. Phalarideae 25 



Tribe 9. Oryzeae 25 



Tribe 10. Zizanieae 26 



Tribe 11. Melinideae 26 



Page 

 Descriptions of the tribes and keys to the 

 genera— Continued. 



Tribe 12. Paniceae 26 



Tribe 13. Andropogoneae 27 



Tribe 14. Tripsaceae 29 



Descriptions of genera and species 29 



Tribe 1. Bambuseae 29 



Tribe 2. Festuceae 31 



Tribe 3. Hordeae 229 



Tribe 4. Aveneae 275 



Tribe 5. Agrostideae 306 



Tribe 6. Zoysieae 462 



Tribe 7. Chlorideae 469 



Tribe 8. Phalarideae 526 



Tribe 9. Oryzeae 535 



Tribe 10. Zizanieae 540 



Tribe 11. Melinideae 546 



Tribe 12. Paniceae 549 



Tribe 13. Andropogoneae 715 



Tribe 14. Tripsaceae 764 



Synonymy 772 



Unidentified names 979 



Persons for whom grasses have been named.. 982 



Glossary 987 



Additions and corrections 993 



Index 994 



INTRODUCTION 



Of all the plants of the earth the grasses are of the greatest use to 

 the human race. To the grasses belong the cereals, sugarcane, sor- 

 ghum, and the bamboos; and, since they furnish the bulk of the 

 forage for domestic animals, the grasses are also the basis of animal 

 industry. 



USES OF GRASSES 



The grasses furnish the principal breadstuffs of the world and a 

 large part of the food of domestic animals; they are also used in the 

 industrial arts and extensively as greensward and ornamentals in 

 parks and gardens. 



FOOD GRASSES 



The most important food plants for the human race are the cereals* 

 including wheat, corn (maize), rice, barley, rye, oats, and many kinds 

 of grain sorghums. For primitive peoples the seed of certain other 

 grasses, such as pearl millet, common millet, broomcorn millet, 

 Japanese millet, and African millet (ragi), have played an important 

 role. The seeds of the cereals are also extensively used as feed for 

 domestic animals. 



FORAGE GRASSES 



Forage grasses are used for hay, for pasturage, for soiling, and for 

 silage. 



