110 TH^: AGRICULTURAL GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



lateral ones are sliort-stalked and imperfect o^ abortive. Each of tlie 

 spikelets has a pair of empty glnmes, which are narrowly lanceolate 

 and awn-pointed, or the lateral ones may be reduced to rough bristles. 

 The flowering glume of the perfect flower is lanceolate^ indistinctly three- 

 nerved, and terminated by an awn one-quarter to one-half inch long, 

 equaling those of the empty glumes. The proper i)alet is inclosed in 

 its glume, is of about the same length as that, excluding the awn, aud 

 of thinner texture. (Plate 116.) , 



HoRDEu:\i JUBATU^i. (Wild barley, Squirrel tail grass.) 



This species has the same general characters as the preceding, but 

 the flowers have awns 2 inches or more long, giving it a bushy and rather 

 handsome appearance. It is frequently found in wet or marshy i)laces, 

 and is of no agricultural value. 



HORDIUM MURINU3I. 



Professor Brewer states that this grass, uufortunately is extensively 

 naturalized in California, and is a vile pest ; it comes in wheu land is 

 overstocked ; is known there as " Squirrel grass," '• Squirrel tail," " Fox 

 tail," and " White oats." The heads break up and the barbed seeds 

 work into the wool of sheep, and even into the flesh of lambs, killing 

 them. It damages the eyes and throats of animals. 



Elymus. (Wild rye.) 



Of this genus we have several species. Its general characters are as 

 follows : Spikelets in a simple, generally stout, spike, sessile, two to four 

 at each joint of the axis, one to six flowered ; outer glumes two for each 

 spikelet, nearly side by side in front, forming a kind of involucre for the 

 cluster, narrow, rigid, one to three nerved, acuminate or awned ; flow- 

 ering glumes herbaceous, thick aud harsh, oblong or lanceolate, rounded 

 on the back, not keeled, acute, or awned ; palet shorter than its glume, 

 'acute, two-keeled. 



Elymus Canadensis. (Wild rye, Lyme grass, Terrell grass.) 



A ])erennial coarse grass, growing on river banks and in rich shaded 

 woods. Culms, 2 to 4 feet high, leafy, terminated by a cylindrical loose 

 S])ike, 4 to 8 inches long, with the spikelets placed at intervals of about 

 half an inch on the axis. The spikelets are mostly in i)airs at each joint, 

 each composed of from three to Ave flowers. The glumes are narrow, 

 strong!}^ nerved, and tapering to an awn which is rather shorter than 

 the awn of the flowers proper. The flowering glume of each flower is 

 thick in texture, narrow, and extending into a long, somewhat curved, 

 awn or beard, the palet with the awn being an inch or more in length. 

 The palet is thinner in texture, obtuse, and not awned, fringed with 

 short hairs on the margin. The spike is usually drooping at the toj), 

 and rather graceful in appearance. The leaves are broad and rough, 

 the lower ones 9 to 12 inches long. 



