Alopecurus. 



GRAMlNEiE. 



417 



Tribe II. PHALARIDEJE. Kunth. 



Spikelets perfect, polygamous or rarely monoecious : either one-Jlowered, with or without a 

 rudimentary stipe-like flower ; or 2-flowered, the flowers perfect or sterile ; or 2 - 3- 

 flowered, the terminal flower perfect, the others incomplete. Glumes mostly equal. Palea 

 mostly shining, indurated in fruit. 



3. ALOPECURUS. Linn.; Endl. gen. 747. foxtail grass. 



[ From the Greek, ahpex, a fox, and oura, a tail ; in allusion to the form of the spike.] 



Spikelets one-flowered. Glumes 2, boat-shaped and keeled, awnless, nearly equal, united at 

 the base. Lower palea membranaceous, compressed, with the margins united below, awned 

 on the back below the middle : upper palea wanting. Styles sometimes connate at the base. 

 — Flowers in a dense cylindrical terminal spiked panicle. 



1. Alopecurus pratensis, Linn. Common Foxtail Grass. 



Culm erect, smooth ; spike cylindrical, obtuse ; glumes connate below the middle, lanceo- 

 late, acute, somewhat hairy, as long as the palea. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 60 ; Engl. hot. t. 759 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 1. p. 65 ; Muhl. gram. p. 80 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 97 ; Trin. gram, uni.- et sesq.-fl. 

 p. 142 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 24. 



Perennial. Culm about 2 feet high, terete, smooth. Leaves smooth, flat. Ligule ovate. 

 Spike (or rather compact panicle) 1-2 inches long, of a yellowish green color ; the flowers 

 crowded on short branches. Glumes and palea hairy and strongly ciliate. Awn about twice 

 the length of the flower, twisted. 



Fields and pastures : rare. Fl. June - July. Doubtless introduced from Europe. 



2. Alopecurus geniculatus, Linn. Water Foxtail Grass. 



Culm ascending, geniculate at the base ; spike cylindrical, obtuse ; glumes connate at the 

 base, hairy, obtuse ; awn twice as long as the flower. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 60 ; Engl. hot. t. 1 250; 

 Pursh, fl. 1. p. 65 ; Muhl. gram. p. 80 ; Ell. sk. I. p. Ill ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 97 ; Trin. gram, 

 uni - et sesq -fl. p. 140, and icon. gram. 4. t. 42 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 24. 



var. aristulatus : awn scarcely as long as the flower. — Torr. I. c. A. aristulatus, Michx. 

 fl. I. p. 43. A. subaristatus, Pers. syn. 1. p. 80 ; Nutt. gen 1. p. 52. A. fulvus, Smith 

 in Engl. hot. t. 1467 ? 



Rhizoma creeping. Culm 12-18 inches high, geniculate and rooting below, terete, smooth. 

 Leaves 2-3 inches long, pale green, smooth and flat ; the sheaths a little inflated : ligule 

 elongated. Spike 1-2 inches long, slender. Flowers ovate, flat. Glumes very villous on the 

 margin, and fringed on the keel. Palea smoothish, as long as the glumes ; the awn arising 

 from below the middle. Stamens 3 : anthers oblong, pale yellow. Styles a little connate at 

 the base : stigmas plumose. Scales collateral, lanceolate, very minute. 



Wet meadows : rather frequent, particularly the short-awned variety. Fl. June, I find 

 no constant difference between A. geniculatus and A. aristulatus ; even in the length of the 

 awn. 



[Flora— Vol. 2.] 53 



