ae Se en > «> i >. & =, .° & oa ~*~ 
A ~ we ol ae a * . 
as long as the flowering glumes, which are oblong-lauceolate, seyen-uerved, and ob- 
, > - 
-tuse or notched at the apex. 
This species grows in Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Mon- 
tana, Utah, and Colorado. (Plate 111.) 
Melica imperfecta. 
This is one of the commonest grasses throughout California, particularly in the 
southern portion. There are several varieties, which differ considerably in size and 
general appearance. The culms are from 1 to 3 feet high, rather slender and wiry, 
the leaves rather numerous and barrow. ‘The panicle varies from 6 to 12 inches in 
length, sometimes narrow, but usually spreading, with rather long and distant 
- branches, which are whorled about in threes of unequal length and numerously 
flowered. The spikelets have one or two perfect flowers, with a short, club-shaped, me 
imperfect one. The empty glumes are shorter than the flowers and three to five- 
nerved, the flowering glume about seven-nerved, usually purplish and acute. It is 
not bulbiferous. 
The larger forms of this grass certainly deserve trial for culture in 
California. (Plate 112.° 
Uniola. 
This genus has closely many-tflowered spikelets, usually large, very flat, and two- 
edged, one or more of the lower flowers consisting only of an empty glume; the 
empty glumes are closely folded together, keeled, rigid, or coriaceous; the flowering 
ones are of similar texture, but larger, many-nerved, usually acute and entire, the 
palet rigid, with the keels narrowly winged. 
Uniola latifolia (Broad Leaved Uniola; Large-flowered Oat Grass). 
This is a handsome grass, growing 2 to 3 feet high, with very broad 
leaves and a large spreading panicle. The drooping spikelets are larger 
than those of any other North American grass, being an inch or more - 
long and half as wide, consisting of ten or twelve flowers. 
It grows from Pennsylvania to Kansas and southward. 
Dr. Charles Mohr, Mobile, Ala., says of this grass: 
A fine vernal grass with a rich foliage, blooming early in May ; frequently in damp, — 
_ sandy loam, forming large tufts. This perennial grass is certainly valuable, affording 
an abundant range early in the season; if cultivated it would yield large crops ready > 
for cutting from the Ist of May. It is called by some wild fescue or oat grass. Iam 
not able to judge of its value as a pasture grass. 
(Plate 113.) 
_Glyceria Canadensis (Rattlesnake Grass ; Tall Quaking Grass). 
Of this genus two species have been already described. This species belongs to the 
northern portion of the United States, usually found in mountainous districts, in 
swamps, and river-borders, growing in large tufts. The culms are stout, about 3 
feet high, smooth and leafy. The leaves are 6 to 9 inches long, the lower ones often 
twice as long and quite broad. The panicle is large and diffuse, 6 to 9 inches long, —~ 
the branches long, slender, and drooping. The branches are more or less whorled, 
mostly in threes, the largest 3 to 4 inches long, and often subdivided. The spikelets 
are oblong or ovate, rather turgid, usually six to eight-flowered. 
This is quite an ornamental grass. Cattle are fond of it, both green 
and when made into hay. Itis well adapted to low meadows and yields 
a large quantity of foliage, 
