Agrostis. 



GRAMINEJ3. 



441 



19. AGROSTIS. Linn.; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 217. 



BENT-GRASS. 



[From the Greek, agros, a field ; in allusion to the place of growth.] 



Glumes 2, somewhat equal, usually much longer than the flower, pointless. Paleae 2 : lower 

 one commonly awned on the back ; the upper often minute or nearly wanting. — Culms 

 cespitose. Panicle diffuse ; the branches fasciculate-verticillate. 



Panicle oblong, the branches spreading and roughish ; flowers awnless ; lower palea 

 3-nerved ; leaves linear ; ligule very short and truncate. — Withering. ; Engl. hot. t. 1761 ; 

 Pursh, fl. \. p. 63 ; MuU. gram. p. 70 ; Torr. fl.l.p.85; Bigel. fl. Bast. p. 28 ; Beck, 

 hot. p. 387 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 55 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 220. A. alba, Muhl. I. c. A. 

 polymorpha, a., Trin. diss. 1. p. 202. A. hispida, Willd. sp. 1. 370. 



Perennial. Rhizoma creeping. Culm 1-2 feet high, erect or ascending, smooth. Leaves 

 2-3 lines wide. Panicle 4-6 inches long, usually purplish, the branches slightly hispid. 

 Glumes lanceolate, rough on the keel ; the rest smoothish and shining, expanding. Lower 

 palea nearly as long as the glumes, smooth at the base, slightly 3-toothed at the summit : 

 lower one a little more than half the length of the upper. 



Pastures and moist meadows : common. Fl. July. Probably introduced from Europe. 



2. Agrostis alba, Linn. Herd's- grass. Fiorin-grass. 



Culms ascending, rooting at the lower joints ; panicle rather contracted, finally spreading, 

 the branches hispid ; lower palea 5-nerved ; ligule oblong. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 65 ; Engl. hot. 

 t. 1189 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 64; Ell. sk. 1. p. 137 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 28 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 85; 

 Beck, hot. p. 387 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 56 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 219. A. stolonifera, Linn. 

 A. decumbens, Muhl. gram. p. 68. 



Culms 1-2 feet high, sometimes decumbent. Leaves roughish ; the sheaths smooth. 

 Panicle pale green or sometimes purplish. Glumes as in the preceding species. " Lower 

 palea occasionally awned on the back, near the tip." Darlingt. 



Moist meadows : frequent. Fl. June - July. Apparently introduced. This and the 

 preceding species are united by Trinius, and it must be confessed that they are not always 

 readily distinguished. They are both completely naturalized in most parts of the United 

 States, and afford very good pasture for cattle, but are not much esteemed for hay. 



1. Agrostis vulgaris, Huds. 



Red-top. Herd's- grass. 



[Flora — Vol. 2.] 



56 



