GRASSES OF OHIO 
323 
Tribe, Oryzeae. Rice Tribe. 
Grasses ivith monosporangiatc or bisporangiatc, more or less laterally 
compressed spikelets in loose panieles; raehilla artieulated helozv the 
empty glumes zvhich are often minute or obsolete; stamens often 6; 
hilum linear. 
60. HomalocenchrUs Mieg. Cut-grass. 
Perennial marsh grasses with flat narrow rough and cutting leaf- 
blades and with paniculate inflorescence. Spikelets apparently 1- 
flowered, strongly flattened laterally, those of the open part of the 
panicle usually sterile, those inclosed in the sheath cleistogamous 
and fruitful; empty glumes none; flowering glumes boat-shaped, 
somewhat indurated, awnless; stamens 1-6; grain ovoid, free. 
1. Branches of the rather simple panicle stiffly spreading; spikelets in. long 
or less. H. virginicus. 
1. Branches of the diffuse panicle generally lax; spikelets Y'Y i^i- lo^g- 
H. oryzoides. 
1. HomalocenchrUs virginicus (Willd.) Britt. Virginia Cut- 
grass. A grass with branched, weak, ascending stems, 1-3 ft. long, 
with clustered scaly rhizomes, and with simple panicles finally long- 
exserted, the slender branches stiffly spreading and usually naked 
below the middle. Lateral panicles usually included; spikelets ob¬ 
long, appressed; lemma hispid on the keel; stamens 2. 
In swamps and wet woods. Aug., Sept. Rather general. 
2. HomalocenchrUs oryzoides (L.) Poll. Rice Cut-grass. A 
grass with rather stout, branching stems, 1-4 ft. long, ascending from 
a decumbent base with slender creeping rhizomes, with very rough 
leaves and a diffusely branched, lax panicle with ascending or 
spreading branches. Lateral panicles usually included. Spikelets 
elliptic; lemma hispid, strongly bristly ciliate on the keel. 
In swamps and along ditches and streams. Aug., Sept. Rather 
general. 
61. Zizania L. Wild-rice. 
A tall monecious hydrophytic annual grass with long flat leaves 
and large terminal panicle, the upper part consisting of carpellate 
spikelets, the lower of staminate, with some perfect spikelets be¬ 
tween the two regions. Spikelets on club-shaped pedicles, readily 
deciduous, apparently 1-flowered, probably consisting of 2 coalescent 
flowers; empty glumes membranous, very minute or nearly obsolete. 
Carpellate spikelet with a long-awned flowering glume and 6 vestigial 
