478 



GRAMINE.E. 



Andropogon. 



** Inflorescence spiked; the spikes simple, in pairs, or fascicled. 



2. Andropogon scoparius, Michx. Purple Wood-grass. 



Spikes simple, lateral and terminal, pedunculate ; lower flower neuter, awned ; glumes of 

 the perfect flower smooth ; the awn twisted. — Michx. fl. 1. p. 57 ; Pursh, fl.]. p. 74 ; Ell. 

 sk. 1. p. 146 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 156 ; Beck, hot. p. 417 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 89 ; Kunth, 

 enum. 1. p. 490. A. purpurascens, Willd. sp. 4. p. 913 ; Muhl. gram. p. 282 ; Bigel. fl. 

 Bost. p. 43. Pollinia scoparia, Spreng. ; Roem. Schult. syst. 2. p. 832. 



Perennial. Culm 3-4 feet high, paniculately branched, a little compressed ; the branches 

 somewhat fasciculate, long and slender. Leaves flat, a little hairy, sometimes glaucous : 

 lower sheaths hairy. Spikes terminating the branches, I - 2 inches long, often purple ; the 

 rachis flexuous, compressed, hairy on the margins. Pairs of spikelets alternate and distichous, 

 rather distant. Lower or neuter flower small, on a very villous pedicel. Glumes unequal ; the 

 lower one awned : upper one often wanting. Paleae inconspicuous or wanting. Glumes of 

 the perfect flower lanceolate. Awn 3-4 times as long as the flowers. Stamens 3. 



Dry barren soils : common. Fl. August. It is often called Broom-grass. 



3. Andropogon furcatus, Muhl. Finger-spiked Wood-grass. 



Spikes digitate, generally by threes or fours ; lower flower staminate, awnless ; awn of 

 the perfect flower contorted. — Muhl. in Willd. sp. 4. p. 919, and gram. p. 281 ; Schreb. 

 Gram. t. 42; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 75; Ell. sk. 1. p. 150; Torr. fl. 1. p. 157; Bigel. fl. 

 Bost. p. 43 ; Beck, hot. p. 418 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 89; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 492. 



Perennial. Culm about 4 feet high, simple or somewhat branching. Leaves flat, nearly 

 smooth ; the lower ones very long : sheaths smooth. Spikes 2-3 inches long, 3-5 or more 

 at the summit of the culm ; the lateral ones often in pairs, straight and somewhat rigid ; the 

 rachis thick and straight. Staminate flower on a short thick pedicel, about half as long as 

 the glumes, which are lanceolate, pale, roughish pubescent, and nearly as long as in the 

 perfect flower. Palea3 lanceolate, shorter than the glumes : awn of the lower one three times 

 as long as the flower : upper palea minute. Stamens 3. Caryopsis oblong, brown. 



Rocky bunks and hill-sides : not rare. Fl. August - September. 



4. Andropogon Virginicus, Linn. Virginian Beard- grass. 



Culm somewhat compressed ; sheaths smooth ; spikes short, 2-3 together, in slender 

 somewhat remote appressed fascicles, lateral and terminal ; lower flower reduced to a mere 

 pedicel without glumes ; perfect flower monandrous ; awn straight. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 1046 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 1. p. 75 ; Muhl. gram. p. 277 ; Torr. fl.l. p. 156 ; Beck, hot. p. 418 ; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 89 ; Kunth, enum. 1. p. 495. A. dissitiflorum, Michx. fl. 1. p. 55 ; Ell. sk. 1. 

 p. 149 ; Pursh, I. c. ; Kunth, I. c. A. vaginatus, Ell. sk. 1. p. 148? Anantherum Virgini- 

 cum, Spreng. 



