graminejE. (grass family.) 639 



2 for each spikelet, forming an involucre to the cluster. Palets coriaceous ; the 

 lower rounded on the back, acute or awned at the apex. Grain adherent to the 

 involving palets (whence the name, an ancient one for some grain, from c'Xi/o), 

 to roll up). 



* Glumes and flowers firm or rigid, both or onhj the latter awned: spikelets 1-5- 



fiowered: perennials, with slender culms and rather harsh and broad flat leaves. 



•*- Spike large and stout. 



1. E. Virgitlicus, L. Spike rigidltj upright, dense (2' -3' long, 6" thick), 

 on a short peduncle usually included in the sheath ; spikclets 2-3 together, 2-3- 

 flowered, smooth, rather short-awned, about the length of the thickened strongly- 

 nerved and bristle-pointed lanceolate glumes. — River-banks: common. Aug. — - 

 Culm stout, 2° -3° high. 



2. E. Canadensis, L. Spike soon nodding (5' -9' long), on an exserted 

 peduncle; spikclets mostly in pairs, of 3-5 long-awned rough or rough-hairy 

 flowers ; the awl-shapid glumes tipped with shorter awns. (E. Philadelphicus, L. !) 

 ■ — Var. glaucif6lius (E. glaucifolius, Muhl.) is pale or glaucous throughout, 

 the flowers with more spreading awns (1^' long). — River-banks : common. 



-t- Spike more slender, as also the culm. 



3. E. SibiriCUS, L. Glabrous; spike wand-hke (2' - G' long, about 3" thick), 

 often somewhat nodding; spikclets in pairs, 3 - 6-flowcred ; glumes linear-lanceo- 

 late, 3 - 5-nervcd, short-awned, shorter than the flowers, which arc rather short-awned. 

 — South shore of Lake Superior (Porter), and northwestward. (Eu.) 



4. E. StriatUS, Willd. More or less pubescent; spike dense and thickish 

 (2' - 4' long), upright or slightly nodding; spikclets mostly in pairs, 1-2- (or 

 rarely 3-) flowered, minutely bristly-hairy; glumes awl-shaped, bristlc-awned, 1-3- 

 nerved, about thrice the length of the flowers exclusive of the capillary awn (which 

 is 1' long). — Yar. villosus (E. villosus, Muhl. I) has very hairy flowers and 

 glumes, and villous sheaths. — Rocky woods and banks. July, Aug. — Palets 

 only 3" long. 



*- * Glumes and palets awnless and soft in texture: reed-like perennials. 



5. E. mollis, Trim (not of R. Br.) Culm (3° high) velvety at top; spike 

 thick, erect (8' long) ; spikelets 2 or 3 at each joint, 5 - 8-flowered ; the lanceo- 

 late pointed 5-7-nerved glumes (1' long) and the pointed palets soft-villous ; 

 rhachis of the spikelets separating into joints. — Shore of the Great Lakes, 

 Maine, and northward. (Near E. arenarius.) 



47. GYMNOSTICHUM, Schreb. Bottle-brush Grass. (PI. 11.) 



Spikelets 2-3 or sometimes solitary on each joint of the rhachis, raised on a 

 very short callous pedicel, loosely 2 - 4-flowered (when solitary flatwise on the 

 rhachis.) Glumes none! or small, awn-like, and deciduous (whence the name, 

 from yvp.vos, naked, and crn'xos, rank). Otherwise nearly as in Elymus. 



1. G. HyGtrix, Schreb. Spike loose (3' -6' long); the spreading spike- 

 lets 2-3 together, early deciduous; flowers smoothish or often rough-hairy, 

 tipped with an awn thrice their length (1' long) ; leaves and sheaths smoothish; 

 ;ulm 3° -4° high; root perennial. (Elymus Hystrix, L.) — Moist woodlands. 

 July, Aug. 



