Oryzopsis. 



GRAMINE.E. 



433 



3. Oryzopsis Canadensis. 



Smallest Oryzopsis. 



Leaves very short, pungent ; panicle contracted, the branches usually in pairs, ovoid ; 

 paleae hairy ; awn short, often deciduous or wanting. — O. parviflora, Nutt. in jour. acad. 

 Phil. 3. p. 125 (not Urachne parviflora, Trin.). Stipa juncea, Michx. fl. I. p. 54. S. 

 Canadensis, Poir, enc. 7. p. 452; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 72; Kunth, enurn. 1. p. 180. Milium 

 pungens, Torr. fl. 1. p. 78 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 26 ; Beck, hot. p. 393. Urachne brevicaudata, 

 Trin. gen. Pan. I. c. p. 127. 



Culm 8-15 inches high, simple, slender, but rigid. Radical leaves 6-8 inches long, 

 about a line wide, erect, strongly nerved and rough above, smooth underneath, finally 

 involute : culm-leaves varying from an inch to scarcely a line in length : sheaths a little 

 swelling, roughish ; the ligule ovate, lacerate and bearded. Panicle oblong, about two inches 

 long, consisting of few spikelets ; the branches flexuous, bearing one or two spikelets at the 

 extremity. Spikelets 2 lines long. Glumes ovate, membranaceous, concave, obtuse or 

 abruptly acuminate, obscurely nerved. Paleae as long as the glumes, equal, acute, nerveless, 

 densely clothed with short white appressed hairs : lower one often with a short awn at the 

 tip. Stamens 3 : anthers yellow. Styles united : stigmas white. 



Rocky hills, and dry barren plains ; common near Rome, and on the summit of the Crow's 

 Nest in the Highlands of the Hudson. Fl. May. 



15. STIPA. Linn.; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 179. FEATHER-GRASS. 

 [From the Greek, stupe, a feathery material ; some of the species having beautifully feathered awns.] 



Spikelets one-flowered ; the flower stipitate. Glumes membranaceous. Paleae longer than 

 the glumes, somewhat coriaceous, cylindrical-involute : lower one awned at the summit ; 

 the awn twisted at the base. Caryopsis terete. — Inflorescence paniculate ; the spikelets 



Leaves setaceous ; panicle somewhat second and spreading, the branches mostly in pairs ; 

 glumes as long as the paleae ; awn very long, naked. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 78 ; Pursh, fl. I. p. 

 72 ; Muhl. gram. p. 181 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 139 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 80 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 31 ; 

 Kunth, enum. 1. p. 180. S. barbata, Michx. fl. I. p. 53. S. Virginica, Pers. syn. 1. p. 99. 



Perennial. Culm li - 2 feet high, slender, simple. Leaves mostly radical, 6-8 inches 

 long. Panicle somewhat nodding, at first contracted, but finally diffuse. Glumes nearly 

 equal, acuminate. Stipe of the flower thickly clothed with brown hairs. Lower palea 

 brownish, narrowly lanceolate, rough ; the awn at its extremity 2-3 inches long, and twisted ; 

 upper palea smaller, membranaceous, mucronate. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, short : 

 stigmas white. Scales 2, lanceolate. Caryopsis dark brown. 



Dry sandy or rocky woods, not uncommon in the valley of the Hudson. Fl. June. 



pedicellate. 



1. Stipa avenacea, Linn. 



Black Oat-grass. 



[Flora — Vol. 2.] 



55 



