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~~ A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE

“OF THE .

Grasses of thst nie States,

gy Bos LP eg “3. it , 3
3 “INCLUDING ESPECIALLY THE t A

GRASS tNLTHONS a THB xB ORLEANS Hs TION. ‘ |

MADE ‘BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICUL TURE, AND
‘THE STATE. ‘EXHIBITS OF GRASSES, WITH NOTES ON
«SUCH. SPECIES AS ARE: ‘MORE OR LESS EMPLOY-
tae ED IN AGRICULTURE, OR DESERVING -”

: OF TRIAL-FOR CULTIVATION.

anh
é BY

R.GFokRGe Vasux,

Botanist of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

a WASHINGTON:
Ganson Bros., PRINTERS AND HPGHS RIDERS
1885.

A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE

, OF THE

Grasses of the United States,

INCLUDING ESPECIALLY THE

GRASS COLLECTIONS AT THE NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION

MADE BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND
\ THE STATE EXHIBITS OF GRASSES, WITH NOTES ON
SUCH SPECIES AS ARE MORE OR LESS EMPLOY-
ED IN AGRICULTURE, OR DESERVING
OF TRIAL FOR CULTIVATION.

BY
Dr. GEORGE VASEY,

Botanist of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON:
GiBson Bros., PRINTERS AND BOOKBINDERS.
1885.

Wasnineron, March, 1885.

Sir: It is interesting to notice at the New Orleans Exposition
that many of the State exhibits, and particularly those of the
Southern and Western States, contain a prominent display of their
grasses, not only baled in the form of hay, but in many instances in
well-prepared botanical specimens. The State of Texas makes a
display of 200 species of grasses indigenous to that State. Califor-
nia and Arizona are jointly represented by an unequalled botanical
display which is especially rich in the variety of grasses. Arkansas
and Alabama have also collections of large extent and prepared
with great care. From Florida we find an exceedingly interesting
collection of grasses, made by Mr. O. H. Kelley, of Carrabelle,
containing some species quite new. Many other States, also, have
not neglected to present exhibits of their resources in the line of
grasses. . There is in fact throughout a large portion of our country
an intense interest manifested in the subject of grasses for the use
of stock. In the South and West particularly the question is an
absorbing one. What grasses shall we use to give a good amount
of pasturage, which shall be able to withstand the long dry season
of our summers? What grasses can we depend on for winter pas-
turage, and what to furnish a supply of hay? These questions are
being continually asked, and although something has been done
toward a satisfactory reply very much yet remains to be détermined.
A faithful and continued series of experiments for the purpose of
testing the value of the different kinds which have been proposed,
and of others which give promise of utility, is perhaps the first
great necessity, and the next, especially among the agricultural
population, is the diffusion of popular and scientific information
respecting our native grasses, so that observing men may be able to
recognize the species which come under their notice, and to make
intelligent selections for cultivation.

With this thought in view I have prepared the accompanying
Catalogue of the Grasses of the United States, with notes and
observations on such species as are more or less employed for the

4

purpose of pasturage or feeding stock, many of which are deserving

of trial for cultivation. .
GEORGE VASEY,

Botanist of Department of Agriculture.

Wu1am Savnpers, Esq.,
Representative of Department of Agriculture at the
World's Industrial and Cotton Exhibition.

GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES.

Remaria, Plugge.

Spikelets acuminate, in unilateral subsessile spikes, with one per-
fect terminal flower and one exterior empty glume, which is mem-
branaceous, three to five nerved, acute, about equalling the fertile
glume. Fertile glume and palet indurated or membranaceous, finely
punctulate. Stamens 2, styles 2, distinct to the base. Stigmas long
and plumose. Culms ascending, diffusely branched at the base.

1. R. oligostachya, Munro. Florida.

This species varies from the character of the genus in usually
having a second outer glume either fully or imperfectly developed
in a portion of the spikelets of each spike.

#. acuta oceurs in Cuba, and will probably also be found in
Southern Florida.

Paspatum, Linn.

Spikelets obtuse or rarely short acuminate, each with one terminal
perfect flower, in one or two rows along one side of the slender soli-
tary or paniculate flattened spikes. Glumes 3, the two outer ones
membranous, equal, or in a few species the outer one smaller or dis-
appearing ; the flowering glume more or less concave, becoming in-
durated, embracing the shorter palet, which is of the same texture.
Stamens 3, styles 2, distinct to the base. Stigmas plumose. Spikes
simple, terminal, or subdigitate, or approximate or scattered along
the general peduncle; spreading or reflexed.

This geuus has its range principally in the Southern and South-
western States. The species are very numerous, are mostly peren-
nials, and vary much in form and habit. Some are tall and erect,
some decumbent or spreading, and others have the habit of sending
out runners which take root at short intervals, and thus spread and
form dense patches. They are all relished by cattle, and some of
them are considered of great value as pasture grasses.

1. P. cespitosum, lugge. Florida.
2. P. ciliatifolium, Jchx. Southern States.
3. P. conjugatum, Berg. Florida to Texas.

6
4. P. debile, Michx. New Jersey to Florida.
5. P. dilatatum, Poir, (P. ovatum, Zrin.) Virginia to Texas.

A tall stout species 3 to 5 feet high. It has been cultivated in
the South, and is highly recommended.

P. dilatatum, var. virgatum, Fisey. Louisiana to Texas.
This variety has more numerous, erect, and close spikes.
P. distichum, Z. Southern States to Arizona.
P. digitaria, Chapman. Southern States.
P. elatum, Richard. Florida to Texas.
P. Floridanum, Michz. Virginia to Texas and Arkansas.

P. Floridanum, var. glabratum, Engelm. Virginia to Texas
and Arkansas.

uS

2H

This species and its variety are tall, strong, and vigorous growing
plants, and would probably be of agricultural value.
10. P. fluitans, Ath. (Ceresia fluitans, #¢2.) South.
11. P. giganteum, Baldw. Florida.

12. P. leve, J/ichx. Massachusetts to Texas.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says he has a neighbor who has
been feeding this grass for twenty-five years, and for many vears
has had a meadow of it from which, without ever having been seeded,
he annually mows about two tons of hay per acre.

13. P. lentifernm, Zam. (P. precox, Walt.) Southern States.
14. P. lentiginosum, Pres?. Alabama to Texas.

This species spreads by runners and makes a dense close turf.

15. P. lividum, Z>in. Texas to Mexico.

16. P. monostachyum, Vasey. (P.rectum, .Vees ’) Southern Florida.
17. P. notatum, /lugge. Near the Gulf coast.
18. P. platycanle, Poir. (P. compressum, .Vees.) South Carolina
to Texas.

A low running species which makes a close matted surface, and
has been recommended as a valuable pasture grass.
19. P. plicatulum, Jch2. Florida to Texas.
20. P. purpurascens, ZU/. North Carolina to Texas.

This species is very leafy, and spreads by its rooting lower joints.
It is very succulent, and deserves trial in cultivation.

21. P. racemulosum, Vutt. Florida to Louisiana.

7

22. P.remotum, Lemy. (P. pubiflorum, Rupt.) Alabama to
Texas.

23. P. setaceum, Michx. Massachusetts to Texas.

24. P. vaginatum, Swz. (P. reimarioides, Chapm.) Florida to
Texas.

25. P. virgatum, var. platyoxon, Doell. Texas.

26. P. Walterianum, Schult. Southern States.

AntTua@nantia, Beauv.

Spikelets loosely racemose on the slender erect branches of the
lax, contracted panicle, containing one perfect terminal flower, and
one male or neuter one; the outer, empty glumes hairy, 5 nerved,
equal, as long as or longer than the flower; perfect flower with
rigid, membranaceous glume and palet, (the apex soft,) the sterile
flower of a thin membranaceous palet.

1. A. rufa, Benth. (Panicum rufum, 7h.) Southern States.
2, A. villosa, Beauv. (Panicum ignoratum, Ath.) Southern States.

i

Ampuicarrum, Ath.

Spikelets of two kinds, those of the simple terminal panicle
generally perfect, but infertile; the fertile ones borne singly at the
ends of subterranean runner-like pedicels, these much larger than
the others. The spikelets are one flowered, those of the panicle
with two nearly equal, smooth, pointed, membranaceons, 5-nerved
outer glumes; the flowering glume and palet rigid-membranaceons,
nearly as long as the outer glumes; the spikelets of the runners
have thickened many-nerved outer glumes, with the flowering glume
and palet indurated.

1. A. Floridanum, Chap. Florida.
2. A. Purshii, Ath. New Jersey to Florida.

Ertocuioa, Hf. B. K.

Spikelets with a peculiar cup-like or annular swelling of the
pedicel just below the base, nearly sessile in one or two rows along
one side of the slender branches of a simple panicle. The spikelets
with one perfect flower, or with a second male or neutral one; the
outer glumes empty, hairy, nearly equal membranaceons, acute or
acuminate; the perfect flower somewhat shorter, coriaceous, obtuse

8

or mucronate pointed ; the imperfect flower when present consisting

of a very thin palet, with or without stamens.

1. E. Lemmoni, Vasey and Scribner. (E. grandiflora, Vusey:)
Arizona.

2. E. mollis, Ath. Florida.
E. mollis, var. longifolia, Vasey. Florida.
3. E. punetata, Hamil. (Millium punctatum, Z.) Texas and New
Mexico.
4. E. sericea, Munro. Texas and New Mexico.

Becxmannta, Host.

Spikelets subsessile, crowded in two rows upon the short simple
or compound branches of the long, narrow panicle; consisting of
two perfect flowers, the terminal one only fertile, (or in American
specimens the lower flower is suppressed,) and two subcoriaceous,
obovate or boat-shaped, compressed and inflated empty glumes. The
glume of the perfect flower or flowers is lanceolate, acute or acumi-
nate, and of rather thinner texture than the empty glumes.

1. B. ernceformis, Host, var. uniflorus, Scrib. Mountain regions
west of the Mississippi.

Panicum, Linn. .

Spikelets with one perfect terminal flower, and usually a second
one which is male only or rudimentary. Outer empty glumes two,
one of which is smaller than the other, often very small, or rarely
wanting, membranaceous. The glume of the perfect flower with
its palet are usually of a coriaceous texture, and obtuse or obtusish.
The second flower when present is membranaceous. Inflorescence
spicate or paniculate.

The name is probabiy derived from the Latin word puis, bread,
because some species were used, and are still used, for bread-mnaking.
The species of this genus are very numerous, (300 or more on the
globe,) and of widely different appearance. We have about 50
native species, most of which have little practical value except as
adding more or less to the wild forage of our woods and fields.
But some species, both native and foreign, are of very high agricul-
tural value.

1. P. agrostoides, Juhl. Massachusetts to Texas.

A perennial grass commonly growing in large clumps in wet

9

meadows, or on the muddy margins of streams. It grows 4 to 6
feet high, with a flattened smooth stem, and develops its reddish
panicles from several of the joints as well as at the top. It produces
a large amount of foliage, which makes good hay if cut before flower-
ing time; if left later the stalks become hard and wiry. Often cut
for hay on low grounds.

2. P. amarum, “77. South Carolina to Florida.

Grows among the sand hills near the sea coast. The leaves are
very bitter.

P. amarum, var. minor, V. @ S. North Carolina to Connec-
ticut, a smaller form growing northward.
3. P. anceps, Michv. Massachusetts to Texas.

A perennial grass, when well developed resembling the P. agros-
toides, but smaller, generally found in moist clay soil. Not a valua-
ble grass, but it frequently occurs in poor lands in sufficient quantity
to afford considerable grazing.

4. P. augustifolium, Chapm., (not Elliott.) Florida to Texas.
5. P. autumnale, Bosc. Illinois and southward.
P. autumnale, var. pubifloruam, Vasey. Texas and Arizona.
6. P. bulbosum, H. B. A. New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico.
P. bulbosum, var. minor, Vasey. (P. maximum, var. bulbosum,

Munro.) Same regions.

This species grows from strong, bulbous rhizomas. It deserves
trial for cultivation.

7. P. capillare, Zinn. Very common.
P. capillare, var. flexile, Gattinger. Kentucky.
P. capillare, var. geniculatum, Scribner. Western.
P. capillare, var. minimum, Angelm. Western.
8. P. Chapmanii, Vasey. (P. tenuiculmum, Chap., not Meyer.)
9. P. ciliatissimum, Buckley. Texas.
10. P. claudestinum, Zinn. Massachusetts to Texas.

A coarse, broad-leaved species growing in wet, marshy ground.
11. P. colonum, Zinn. (P. Walteri, ZU.) Alabama to Texas.
12. P. consanguineum, Ath. (P. augustifolium, £7/.?) South.
13. P. commutatum, Schultz. (P. nervosum, Jfuhl.?) Pennsylva-

nia to Louisiana.
14. P. crusgalli, Zinn. Barn-yard grass. Naturalized from Europe.

10

P. crusgalli, var. echinatum, Zorr.
P. crusgalli, var. hispidum, Gr.

This is an annual grass, with thick, stout culms, usually from 2
to 4 feet high. In the Southern States it is often employed and
considered a valuable grass. Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says
that “in that and some other States it is mowed annually, and is
said sometimes to furnish four or five tons of hay per acre. It an-
nually reseeds the ground and requires no cultivation or other care,
save protection from stock and the labor of harvesting. In one
county in Mississippi hundreds of acres are annually mowed on
single farms. Cows and horses are very fond of it, whether green
or dry.” In the Northern States it is hardly ever employed.

15. P. Curtisii, Chapm. Florida to Texas.
16. P. depauperatum, Muhl. New York to Texas.
P. depanperatum, var. rectum, Zorr. New York and New Eng-
land.
17. P. dichotomum, Zinn. Throughout the United States.
P. dichotomum, var. barbulatum, (7.
P. dichotomum, var. nitidum, (?.

A wide-spread species of many forms. furnishing much wild for-
age, but not cultivated.
18. P. divaricatum, Zinn.

A tropical and subtropical species found, in our country, only in
Florida and the Gulf States, near the coast. It is a shrubby, cane-
like species, the culms being woody and persistent. Only the leaves
and young shoots are eaten by cattle.

19. P. fasciculatum, Siz. (P. striatum, Chapm., not Lam.)
P. fasciculatnm, var. fusenm. (P. fuscum, Swz.)
P. fasciculatum, var. reticulataum. (P. reticulatum, Zorr.)
This species extends from South Carolina to Texas.
20. P. filiforme, Zinn. (Digitaria filiformis, W/uA/.) From Mas-
sachusetts to Florida.
21. P. gibbum, £42. South Carolina to Florida and Texas.

An annual grass of large and vigorous growth, growing in wet
soils. It needs trial for cultivation. In the United States Exhibit
there are specimens from Florida 6 feet in length, sent by O. H..
Kelly, Carrabelle.

22. P. glabrum, (aud. (Digitaria glabra, &. dé 8.) Introduced.

11

. P. grossarium, Zinn. Ballast ground, Philadelphia.
4. P. gymnocarpum, £2. South Carolina to Texas.

A tall, stout species, with long and broad leaves.

25. P. Hallii, Vasey. Texas.
26. P. hians, £72. (P. melicarium, JZ.) South Carolina to Texas.
27. P. latifoliam, MuAd., non Linn. New England to Texas.

P. latifolinm, var. molle, Vasey. New England to Texas.
28. P. laxiflorum, Zam. (P. dichotomum, var. of authors.) Com-
mon. *
29. P. leucopheum, H. B.A. (P. lachnanthum, Zorr.) Florida,
Texas, and Arizona.
30. P. maximum, Jacg. (P. jumentorum, fers.) Introduced.
This is the proper Guinea grass, a native of Africa, but introduced
into many tropical countries, and in the West Indies extensively
cultivated for pasturage. It has been introduced in Florida, but is
yet very little known in the Southern States. It has been con-
founded with the Johnson grass, which is very different, and is bo-
tanically Sorghum halepense. The Guinea grass seldom matures
seed in this country and is usually propagated by dividing the roots.
It is too tender to be cultivated except in the very warmest portions
of our country. In favorable situations it is said that a cutting of
grass may be made every six weeks throughout the season. An
analysis made at the Department of Agriculture, in 1878, shows it
to be very rich in nutritive materials.

31. P. microcarpum, J/uhd. (P.multiflorum, £77.) In wet ground,
from Massachusetts to Texas.
P. microcarpum, var. spheerocarpon, Vasey. (P.sphzerocarpon,
itl.) Same range.
32. P. miliaceum, Zinn. Introduced.

This is the Millet grass of India, or at least one of the Indian
Millets. It has, in Asia, been cultivated for ages, and is, in many
parts, an important article in the food supply of the natives. It is
also cultivated in Egypt, Turkey, and Southern Europe. It has
been cultivated to a limited extent in this country for forage, and
will thrive and ripen in the Northern as well as the Southern States

Mr. Charles L. Flint says:

Millet is one of the best crops we have for cutting and feeding green for soiling
purposes, since its yield is large, its luxuriant leaves juicy and tender, and much
relished by milch cows and other stock. The seed is rich in nutritive qualities, but

12

‘it is very seldom ground or used for flour, though it is said to exceed all other kinds
-of meal or flour in nutritive elements. An acre well cultivated will yield from 60°
to 70 bushels of seed. Cut in the blossom. as it should be for feeding to cattle, the
‘seed is comparatively valueless. If allowed to ripen its seed, the stalk is no more
nutritious, probably, than oat straw.

33. P. obtusum, ZH. B.A. Texas, Arizona, and Mexico.

This species has a strong running rootstock, which at intervals
sends up flowering culms 13 to 2 feet high. The leafy runners 2 to
3 feet long are sent out from the base, and at intervals form thick-
ened, woolly knots or nodes which eventually take root. This grass
will evidently have great endurance of drought, and is deserving of
trial with reference to its agricultural value.

34. P. paspaloides, Pers. Florida to Texas.
35. P. plantagineum, Zinn. Ballast ground, Philadelphia.
36. P. platyphyllum, unro. Texas.

A peculiar grass having the appearance of a Paspalui.

37. P. proliferum, Zam. Widespread from New England to Texas.
P. proliferum, var. geniculatum. (P. geniculatum, ZU/.) South-
ern States.

This variety occurs in the Southern States, where it is sometimes
called “ sprouting crab-grass.” It is an annual, growing in low,
moist ground. The stems are at first erect, then become decumbent
and spreading, frequently attaining a length of 6 or 7 feet, bent and
rooting at the lower joints. It has much the same habit as P. Te.r-
anum, but the stems are smooth and more flattened; the leaves also
are smoother and longer. The stems are sometimes nearly an inch
thick at the base and very succulent. The main stem is terminated
by a diffuse panicle sometimes 2 feet long. Dr. Chas. Mohr, of
Mobile, savs of it :

In damp grassy places it prefers rich ground throughout the sects region. It
commences to yegetate vigorously in the hottest part of the summer, throwing out
numerous shoots from the joints, forming large-brauched bushes. The foliage is
rich and tender, and the succulent, thick stems are sweet and juicy. After cutting

it throws out numerous sprouts from the lower joints, which grow rapidly, so as to

allow repeated cuttings until frost. It is through all stages of its growth much rel-
ished by horses and cattle.

38. P. prostratum, Zam. Gulf States.
39. P. ramulosum, chr. (P. dichot. var.) Southern States.
40. P. repens, Zinn. Introduced. Gulf coast.

P. repens, var. confertum, Vasey. Gulf coast.

13

41. P. sanguinale, Zinn. (Digitaria sanguinale, Scop.) Crab-grass..
Common.

This is an annnal grass, which, although a native of the Old
World, has become spread over most parts of this country, and in-
deed over all tropical countries. It is the most common crab-grass
of the Southern States. It occurs in cultivated and waste grounds,
and grows very rapidly during the hot summer months. The culms
usually rise to the height of 2 or 3 feet, and at the summit have:
from 3 to 6 slender flower spikes, each from 4 to 6 inches long.
The culms are bent at the lower joints, where they frequently take
root. In the Texas Exhibit there are specimens of this grass five:
feet ten inches long.

Prof. Killibrew, of Tennessee, says :

It is a fine pasture grass, although it has but few base leaves and forms no sward,.
yet it sends out numerous stems or branches at the base. It serves a most useful.
purpose in stock husbandry. It fills all our corn-fields, and many persons pull it out,
which is a tedious process. It makes a sweet hay, and horses are exceedingly fond
of it, leaving the best hay to eat it.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says that the corn and cotton
tields are often so overrun with it that the hay which might be se-
cured would be more valnable than the original crop: It is some-.
times mowed from between the rows, sometimes eut across the
‘ridges with the corn.

Any good piece of ground that has had this grass matured on it the preceding’
year nay be plowed and harrowed smoothly and then rolled in May, and it will soon
be covered with a rich growth. If the season is favorable two mowings should be-

_ made.

-42. P. scabriusculum, £7/. Southern States.

43. P. scoparium, Zam. (P. paucifloram, “W/.?) Massachusetts to
Oregon.

44. P. serotinum, Z’rin. (Digitaria serotina, J/v., D. villosa, £%.):

In the Southern States one of the kinds of crab-grass.

.45. P. stenodes, Gris. (P. anceps, var. strictum, Chapm.) Florida
to Texas. .
46. P. Texanum, Buckley. Texas. Texas millet.

This grass is a native of Texas, and was first described and named.
by Prof. 8. B. Buckley in 1866. It is an annual, growing from 2:
to 4 feet high, at first erect, then becoming decumbent and widely
spreading, sparingly branched, very leafy, the sheaths and leaves-

14

soft hairy, the margin of the leaves rough, the blade of the leaf 6
to 8 inches long, and one-half to 1 inch wide, the upper leaves
reaching to the base of the panicle, or nearly so; the panicle is 6 to
8 inches long, strict or close, the branches alternate, erect, simple, 3
to 4 inches long, with somewhat scattered sessile spikelets. The
branches of the panicle are rough, the pedicels with scattered hairs,
especially near the flowers; the spikelets are oblong, somewhat
pointed, 2 to 2} lines long, sparsely hairy ; the lower glume is half
or two-thirds the length of the upper one, acute, five-nerved, the
lateral nerves uniting with the mid-nerve below the apex, the upper
empty glume prominently five to seven nerved, pointed; the flower-
ing glume of the sterile flower is five to seven nerved, its palet thin
and transparent, as long as the glume; the perfect flower, ovate or
oblong-ovate, acutish, transversely wrinkled with fine reticulated
lines.

It is a grass of rapid, vigorous growth, many stalks proceeding
from the same root, growing very close and thick at the base, succu-
lent, and yielding a large amount of forage.

Mr. Pryor Lea, of Goliad, Tex., has had it in cultivation a num-
ber of years, and states as follows:

I consider it far superior to any grass that I ever saw for hay. It isa much more
certain crop than millet, and cultivated with less labor, and all kinds of stock pre-
fer it. In this region it is regarded, in the condition of well-cured hay, as more
nutritious than any other grass. It grows only in cultivated ground; it prospers
best in the warmest season of the year; its luxurious growth subdues other grasses
and some weeds, with the result of leaving the ground in an ameliorated condition.

Mr. H. W. Ravenel, of Aiken, 8. C., says he has been cultivating
Panicum Texanum for several years. It is hardy and naturalized
there, freely seeding and propagating itself, coming up in his grounds
with other grasses, and much larger and better than any of them for
hay and forage.

The experiments of Professor Phares and others, in Mississippi, °
substantially confirm the statements of Mr. Lea, although it is said
that it will hardly hold its own against the common crab grass,
(Digitaria sanguinale.) It has been ealled concho grass in some
parts; in others Colorado bottom grass. It is stated that on the
Colorado bottoms, in Texas, many of the farmers have devuted
their farms entirely to its production, finding it more profitable than
corn or cotton. It is cut twice and sometimes three times in a
year, yielding about one and a half tons per acre at each cutting.

15

In the Texas Exhibit there are specimens 6 feet three inches high.

47. P. Urvilleanum, A¢A. Southern California.

48. P. velutinosum, ees. Arizona.

49. P. verrucosum, Jfuhl. New England to Texas.

50. P. virgatum, Zinn. New England to Florida, and West to

Rocky Mountains. Tall Panic grass. Switch grass.

A tall perennial grass, 3 to 5 feet high, growing mostly in clumps
in moist or even in dry sandy soil, very common on the sea-coast,
and also in the interior to the base of the Rocky Mountains. This
is a good and prolitic grass if cut when young; when ripe it be-
comes harsh and unpalatable. It forms a large constituent of the
native grasses of the prairies, particularly in moist localities.

51. P. viscidum, Zv2. New England to Texas. Moist meadows.

52. P. Xanthophysum, Gray. Massachusetts and New York to
Minnesota.

53. P. unisetum, Zrin. (Setaria uniseta, Hour.) Texas.

OptismEnus, Beauv.

Spikelets with one terminal perfect flower and a rudimentary one,
awned, clustered along the distant sessile branches of the simple
panicle, with three empty glumes; the lowest glume nearly as long
as the others and longer awned; the flowering glume awnless and
hardened with the palet as in Panicum.

1. O. setarius, &. & S. (Panicum hirtellum, Zam.) Florida to Texas.

Seraria, Beauv.

Spikelets in a cylindrical spike-like, or sometimes interrupted
panicle. Below the articulation of the spikelets are several, usually
many, bristles, which are supposed to be abortive branchlets and
persistent after the fall of the spikelets. The spikelets contain one
terminal fertile flower, (its glume and palet indurated and striate,)
and usually a lower male or sterile one. Empty glumes 3, the
lower one small, the second usually shorter than the third, the flow-
ering glume indurated; the second flower when present consisting
of a thin palet and sometimes three stamens.

1. 8. composita, Ath. Florida to Texas.

A tall, coarse, broad-leaved grass resembling Hungarian grass.
It frequently grows 5 to 6 feet high.

16

2. 8. corrugata, Schult. Georgia to Florida.
3. S. glauca, Beauv. . Pigeon grass. Extensively naturalized.
8. glanca, var. levigata, Chap. North Carolina to Florida.
S. glauca, var. imberbis ? Mississippi to Texas.
4. 8. Italica, Ath. Hungarian grass. German millet. Introduced.

This grass is supposed to be a native of the East Indies, but it has
been extensively introduced into most civilized countries. It has
long been cultivated as a fodder grass both in Europe and in this
country. It is an annual grass of strong rank growth, the culms
erect, 2 to 3 feet high, with numerous long and broad leaves, and a
terminal, spike-like, nodding panicle, 4 to 6 inches long, and often
an inch or more in diameter. There is a great difference in the dif-
ferent varieties and forms of this grass, so much so that some of
them have been considered different species, but the general opinion
of botanists is that they are all varying forms of the same species,
dependent upon the character of the soil, thickness of seeding,
moisture or dryness, and time of sowing. It owes its value asa
fodder plant to the abundance of its foliage and to the large quan-
tity of seed produced. In some instances objection has been made
to this grass on account of the bristles which surround the seed, and
which have been said to penetrate the stomachs of cattle so as to
cause inflammation and death. But it is plain that this opinion is
not generally held, as the cultivation of the grass is widely extended
and everywhere recommended.

For forage it should be cut as soon as it blooms, when of course it is worth
nothing for seed, but is most valuable for forage and exhausts the land much less.
If left for the seed to mature they are very abundant and rich feed, but the stems.
are worthless, while the soil is more damaged. The matured stems are very hard,
indigestible, and injurious, and the ripe seeds will founder more promptly than corn,
and sometimes produce diabetes if mouldy and too freely used. If cut at the right
stage the whole plant is a safe and very valuable forage. On good soil, if the ground
be moist, it will be ready for mowing in sixty days from seeding and produce from
two to four tons of hay per acre. It is folly to sow it on poor land.—Professor
PHAREs.

5. 8. setosa, Beauv. New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.

S. setosa, var. caudata. Same region.

We know little as to the agricultural value of this species; as it
is found in arid districts it is deserving of the attention of farmers
in that section.

6. S. verticillata, Beauv. Introduced from Europe.
7. 8. viridis, Beawv. Green Pigeon grass. Naturalized.

17

A native of most tropical and many temperate climates, and has
been introduced into most cultivated fields, springing up or growing
after the cutting of wheat and early grain, and making its growth
in the latter part of the season. It is often associated with Setaria
glauca in stubble fields, and, like that species, furnishes a considera-
ble amount of fodder, which is as nutritious as Hungarian grass,
but not so productive.

Crncurus, Linn.

Spikelets much as in Panicum, inclosed 1 to 3 together in a thick,
coriaceous, spiny involucre, or bur, these arranged in an oblong or
cylindrical panicle.

1. CO. echinatus, Zinn. North Carolina to Texas.

2. C. incertus, Jf. A.C. (C. strictus, Chap.) Florida to North
Carolina.

. C. myosuroides, ZH. B. HX. Florida to Mexico.

4. C. tribuloides, Zinn. Massachusetts to Texas and California.

os

All the species of Cenchrus are found in sandy or saline grounds,
and are called Bur-grass from the hard spiny seed involucre, which
renders the grass very troublesome and annoying both to man and
animals. ‘They are very hurtful to the wool of sheep. The plants
are valueless.

Prnnisetum, i's.

Spikelets with one terminal perfect flower, and a second male or
neuter one below it, solitary, or two to three together, closely sur-
rounded by an involucre of usually numerous simple or plumose
bristles which disarticulate from the pedicel with the spikelets.
The spikelets are crowded in a spike-like panicle, or on peduncu-
lated spike-like branches. The lower empty glume is small, the
second and third larger, and longer than the perfect flower, the
glume of which is thicker and more rigid; sterile flower consisting
of a membranaceous palet.

ts -Pe ‘setosum, Rich? Florida.

Spartina, Schreb.

Spikelets one-flowered, much flattened, sessile along one side of
the long, triangular rhachis or spikes, which are racemose on the
panicle; outer glumes strongly compressed with a rigid keel, une-

3

18

qual, awnless; flowering glume membranaceous, compressed, cari-
nate, awnless; palet nearly equaling its glume, two-keeled.

1. S. cynosuroides, Willd. Common. New England to the Rocky
Mountains.

In the Western States this species is very common, often forming
a large part of the grass of the sloughs and wet marshes of that
region. It is coarse and stout, growing from 3 to 6 feet high, with
leaves 2 to 3 feet long. It is frequently cut for hay, but is a very
coarse inferior article, unless cut when very young. It gives good
feed very early in the spring, but soon becomes so coarse as to be
rejected by cattle when anything better is procurable. In the bot-
tom lands of the Mississippi, where it is abundant, it-has been
manufactured into paper.

2. S. gracilis, 7rin. Oregon to Dakota, south to Texas and Arizona.
3. 8. juncea, Willd. Marsh-grass, Salt-grass, Rush-grass.

This grass forms a large portion of the salt. marshes near the
Atlantic sea-coast. It makes an inferior hay, called salt-hay, much
used also as a packing material.

4. 8. polystachya, Wildd. Salt Reed-grass. Near the coast.
A tall, coarse grass, much like the S. cynosuroides.

5. S. stricta, Roth. Marshes near the coast.
S. stricta, var. alterniflora, Gr. Near the coast.
8. stricta, var. glabra, Gr. Near the coast.

Srenoraparem, Zin.

Spikelets two-flowered, the terminal one perfect and fertile, the
lower one male or imperfect, the lowest empty glume short and
obtuse, the second the largest, the two flowering glumes rather
smaller, palets of both flowers similar in texture. The spikelets
are imbedded, singly or two or three together, in alternate excava-
tions of the broad flattened rhachis of a spike-like panicle.

1. S. Americanum, Schkr. Southern States, near the coast.

Puarus, Linn.

Flowers monecious in a terminal panicle. Spikelets in pairs,
unequal, the smaller one pediceled, its flowering glume membrana-
ceous and with 6 stamens; the larger one sessile, its flowering glume

19

indurated and involving the membranous palet and the pistil; empty
glumes two, nearly equal, membranaceons.

1. P. latifolius, Zrin. South Florida.

Corx, Linn.

Flowers moncecious in terminal and lateral cymose panicles, the
upper part male, the lower part female. Male spikelets two-flow-
ered, empty glumes two, the flowers membranaceous. The pistillate
spikelets, one to two flowered, are inclosed within a bract which be-
comes a round, bony, shining involucre; they have each two empty
membranaceous glumes, the terminal flower pistillate and fertile,
the lower flower neutral.

1. C. lachryma, Zinn. Job’s tears. Hardly naturalized.
Tripsacum, Linn.

Flowers monecious in jointed spikes, the upper part of which is
male and the lower female. The upper or male spikelets are sessile,
in pairs at each joint of the triangular rhachis ; each spikelet con-
tains two membranaceous male flowers, the outer glumes coriaceous
or rigid. The pistillate spikelets are single and imbedded in the
joints of the thickened cartilaginous rhachis, two flowered, the upper
flower fertile, the lower neutral; the outer empty glume is thick-
ened and cartilaginous,.the inner much thinner and pointed; the
flowering glumes and palets are thin and scarious. At maturity the
rhachis breaks up at the joints with the imbedded spikelets.

1. T. dactyloides, Zinn. Gama grass.

A tall, stout, perennial grass, growing sparingly at the North,
more common southward to Texas, and in the Western States.

Mr. Howard, of South Carolina, says of it:

This is a native of the South, from the mountains to the coast. The seed stem
runs up to the height of 5 to 7 feet. The seeds break off from the stem as if from a
joint, 2 single seed ata time. The leaves resemble those of corn. When cut before
the seed stems shoot up they make a coarse but nutritious hay. It may be cut three
or four times during the season. The quantity of forage which can be made from
itis enormous. Both cattle and horses are fond of the hay. The roots are almost
as large and strong as cane roots. It would require a team of four to six oxen to
plow it up. It can, however, be easily killed by close grazing, and the mass of dead
roots wonld certainly enrich the land. As the seeds of this grass vegetate with un-
certainty, it is usually propagated by setting out slips of the roots about 2 feet apart
each way. On rich land the tussocks will soon meet. In the absence of the finer

20

hay grasses this will be found an abundant and excellent substitute. The hay
made from itis very like corn fodder, is quite equal to it in value, and may be
saved at a tithe of the expense.

This account is concurred in by other writers.

2. T. Floridanum, Porter. Florida.
3. T. Lemmoni, Vasey. Arizona.

Hyprocuioa, Beauv.

Flowers in small (4 to 1 inch) simple moncecious spikes, mostly
included in the sheaths of the upper leaves. Spikelets 3 to 5 in
each spike, the upper ones staminate, the lower pistillate; spikelets
1 flowered, consisting of 2 nearly equal hyaline scales, which are
considered glumes, the true palet wanting. Stamens 6, styles 2,
stigmas elungated.

1. H. Caroliniensis, Beauv. North Carolina to Florida and Mis-
sissip pi.

A small semi-aquatic grass, with short oblong-linear leaves.

Luzroua, Juss.

Flowers moneecious, in separate, spreading panicles, the staminate
spikelets smaller than the fertile ones. Spikelets 1 flowered, the
glumes nearly equal, membranaceous, strongly nerved, the true
palets wanting. Stamens 5 to 11, anthers linear, much longer than
the short filaments, styles 2, short, stigmas plumose. Perennial
aquatic or marsh grasses, with long narrow leaves, the culms creep-
ing and rooting at the lower joints.

1. L. Alabamensis, Chap. Alabama.
g. L.? Peruviana, Pers. Louisiana.

Zizania, Linn.

Spikelets nnisexual, moncecious, 1 flowered, in diffusely spreading
panicles. Spikelets with 2 somewhat unequal glumes, membrana-
ceous, convex, awnless in the male flowers, in the female ones the
lower glume tipped with a straight awn; palets wanting. Pedicels

_ of the spikelets club-shaped.

Tall aquatic or marsh grasses.

1. Z. aquatica, Zinn. Wild Rice. Indian Rice.

This grass is botanically related to the common commercial rice,
(Oryza sativa,) but is very different in general appearance. It is

21

widely diffused over North America, and is found in Eastern Siberia
and Japan. It grows on the muddy banks of rivers and lakes, both
near the sea and far inland, sometimes in water 10 feet or more deep,
forming patches or meadows covering many acres or extending for
miles. Its ordinary growth is from 5 to 10 feet high, with a thick
spongy stem and abundant long and broad leaves. The panicle is
pyramidal in shape, 1 to 2 feet long, and widely branching below.
The upper branches are rather. appressed and contain the fertile
flowers, and the lower branches contain only staminate ones. The
spikelets are one-flowered, each with one pair of external husks or
seales, which are by some botanists called glumes, and by others
called palets. These husks or glumes in the fertile flower are nearly
or quite an inch long, with an awn or beard as long or twice as long.
The grain inclosed between them is half an inch long, slender, and
cylindrical. The glumes of the staminate flowers are about half an
inch long and without awns, each flower containing six stamens.
These flowers fall off soon after they expand. The fertile flowers
also drop very readily as soon as the grain is ripened. The grass
abounds in the small lakes of Minnesota and the Northwest, and is
there gathered by the Indians for food. The husk is removed by
scorching with fire. It is a very palatable and nutritious grain.
Some attempts have been made to eultivate the grass, but the read-
iness of the seed to drop must interfere with a successful result.
Near the sea-coast multitudes of ‘reed birds resort to the marshes
where it grows and fatten upon the grain. The culms are sweet
and nutritious, and cattle are said to be very fond of the grass.

2. Z. miliacea, Mz. Pennsylvania to Texas.

Lrersia, Swartz.

Spikelets 1 flowered, flat, articulated on short pedicels, along the
slender branches of a terminal panicle. Glumes 2, strongly com-
pressed or conduplicate, awnless, bristly ciliate on the keels, the
lower one much the larger. No palets. Stainens 1 to 6, stigmas 2,
styles short, distinct. Perennial grasses, the leaves and sheaths
usually rough with minute prickles.

1. L. hexandra, Swz. Sparingly from North Carolina to Texas.

In Manilla, one of the Phillippine Islands, (as we learn from the
United States consul at that place,) this species is cultivated as food
for horses and cattle. It is treated like rice, being transplanted to

22

the wet and previously plowed meadows. The local name there is
Zacate. It occurs in all tropical countries.
2. L. lenticularis, Wichr. White grass. Virginia, South and West.
3. L. monandra, Sirz. Florida.
4. L. oryzoides, Sivz. False rice. Massachusetts to Texas.
5. L. Virginica, Willd. Cut-grass. Maine to Texas.

The two latter species are common on marshy or moist ground.
They are sometimes cut for hay.

Tucurseria, Benth.

Panicle rather long and loose. Spikelets narrow, one-flowered,
and with an awn-like pedicel, outer glumes equal and coriaceous, the
flowering glume nearly as long, chartaceous, compressed, the apex
obliquely truncate and terminating in a long twisted awn; palet
somewhat shorter and narrower, membranaceous; stamens 3, styles
distinct.

1. T. Arkausana, Benth. (Limnas, Steudel, Greenia, Nutt., Scle-
rachne, Zorr.) Arkansas and Texas to Florida.

Trinius made a second species, from Texas, (7. p//osa,) but. it is
probably ouly a pubescent form of the first. Dr. Chapman says
“spikelets two flowered,” which must be a mistake.

Hinaria, H. B. A.

Inflorescence in terminal spikes; the spikelets in small clusters
of three, closely sessile at the joints of the rhachis, the central spike-
let containing a single fertile flower, either female or perfect; the
two lateral spikelets each with two or three male flowers. The
spikelets are so closely sessile as to require much care to separate
them properly. The onter glumes of the spikelets are unlike,
mostly thin, rigid, and strongly nerved, some lobed or bifid, dentate
or lacerate at the apex, some awnless, and some awned between
the lobes.

1. H. cenchroides, H. 8. H., var. Texana. Texas and New Mexico.

2. H. Jamesii, Benth. (Pleuraphis, Zor7.) Texas and New Mexico.

3. H. mutica, Benth. (Pleuraphis nintica, Buckl.) Texas and New
Mexico.

4. H. rigida. (Pleuraphis rigida, Thurber.) Arizona.

The grasses of this genus are natives of the arid regions extend-

23

ing from Colorado to New Mexico. In some places they form a
considerable proportion of the vegetation, and are eaten by cattle,
some of them being considered as next in value to Grama grass,
(Bouteloua.)

«Eeorocon, H. B. K.

Inflorescence in loose, one-sided, terminal and lateral spikes or
racemes ; the spikelets are one-flowered in clusters of two or three,
one of which is usually sterile or male only. The outer glumes are
cuneate, emarginate, aristate, and shorter than the flowering glumes,
which are three-nerved and three-awned ; the palets are two-nerved
and two-awned. Stamens 3, styles 3.

1. 2. cenchroides, Willd. Texas.
2. Al. geminiflorus, H. B. KH. New Mexico and Arizona.

Catusrsrecuum, Presi.

Spikelets mostly 2-flowered, in fascicles of three, rarely four, each,
along the rhachis of a somewhat one-sided simple raceme, which is
about 1 inch long, and composed of from 5 to 9 fascicles of flowers.
Flowers mostly perfect, or the upper one sterile. Outer glumes
unequal, the lower one small, the upper lanceolate, acute, or mucro-
nate, flowering glumes oblong, four-lobed, with the 3 nerves ex-
tended into short awns between the lobes; palet 3-toothed at the
apex, the two nerves extended into a short point. Low grasses
growing in clumps, sending ont runners which take root at intervals
to form new stools.

1. C. erectum, Vasey & Hackel. Texas to Arizona.

Tracus, Hall. (Lappago, Schred.)

Flowers in rather close terminal spikes; the spikelets in clusters
of 2 to 5, mostly 3, one of which is imperfect. The perfect spike-
lets are one-flowered, with dissimilar glumes, the lower one minute
and membranaceous, the upper one concave, subcartilaginous, and
beset with stout, short hooks; the flowering glume is firmly mem-
branaceous and acute; the palet is shorter and thinner, two-nerved.
Stamens 3, styles distinct.

1. T. racemosus, Had’. Introduced. Rare.

24
Imprrata, Cyr.

Inflorescence densely spicate or in a spike-like panicle, the spike-
lets usually in pairs, one sessile and the other pediceled along the
slender rhachis of the short branches of the panicle, with long silky
hairs at the base and on the outer glumes. Spikelets with one per-
fect and one neutral flower, the outer glumes thin, nearly equal,
silky; the flowering glumes smooth and hyaline; palet usually tran-
cate and jagged at the top. Stamens 1 or 2, styles 2.

1. I. Brasiliensis, Zrin. (I. candata, Chap.) Florida.
2. L. brevifolia, Vasey. (I. arundinacea, authors.) West Texas to
California.

Errantavs, JWiche.

Panicle terminal, dense and woolly, or lax, with the branches dis-
. tant. Spikelets one-flowered, in pairs at the joints of the slender
branches, one sessile, the other pedicelled, otherwise both alike.
Glumes +4, the 2 outer nearly equal, 5-nerved, thick, the third glume
smaller, thin, aud hyaline, the fourth thin, slender, mostly bifid, ter-
minated by a slender, rigid awn, and enclosing the stamens and
style. In addition there are two lodicules or scales at the base of
the last (upper) glume. There is a tuft of long silky hairs at the
base of each spikelet, except in /. strictus. No true palet present.

1. E. brevibarbis, JMchx. Virginia to Texas.

2. E. contortus, £77. North Carolina to Texas.

3. E. saccharoides, Jfichez. (E. alopecnroides, Zid.) Maryland to
Texas.

4, E. strictus, Baldw. North Carolina, Tennessee to Texas.

Exioncres, H. B. A.

Flowers in narrow cylindrical spikes, the spikelets in pairs, (one
sessile and one pedicelled,) at each alternate joint of the grooved
rhachis, the sessile spikelet with one perfect flower, the pedicelled
one sterile. Glumes 4, all awnless, the lower one usually the largest
and thickest, the 2d rather smaller and thinner, the 3d and 4th hya-
line; the true palet generally wanting. Stamens 3, style distinct,
stigmas plumose.

1. E. candidus, Hack. (Andropogon candidus, Zrin.) Texas to
Arizona.

25

2. E. ciliaris, H. B. HK. Texas to Arizona.
3. E. Nuttallii, Vasey. (Andropogon, Chap.) Florida to Texas.

Dr. V. Havard states that this species forms a large portion of
the vegetation of the plains of Southeast Texas.

Rorrsarra, Linn.

Flowers in terminal and lateral cylindrical spikes. Spikelets in
pairs at each joint of the rhachis, one sessile and imbedded in an
excavation of the rhachis, the other short pedicelled, erect and ap-
pressed. The sessile spikelet has two thick outer glumes, two hya-
line ones and a hyaline palet, with the stamens and pistil. Rarely
this spikelet has a second male or imperfect flower. The pedicelled
spikelet is usually imperfect, male only or reduced to empty glumes.

1. R. corrugata, Bald. South Carolina to Texas.
2. R. cylindrica, Chap. Florida to Texas.
3. R. rugosa, Vutt. Delaware to Florida.

Manisuris, Swartz.

Spikelets in pairs in the one-sided notches of the articulate rhachis
of «simple spike, one sessile and half imbedded in a cavity of the
rhachis, with one perfect flower, the other on a short appressed
pedicel and reduced to two empty glumes. Outer glumes of per-
fect flower two, the lower globular and hard, the second smaller
and concave, thin but rigid. Third and fourth glumes small and
hyaline. Palet, none; the fourth glume usually considered a palet.

J. M. granularis, Swz. Introduced. Texas and New Mexico.

Hemarraria, 2. Br.

Spikelets in pairs in the alternate notches of a simple spike, one
sessile and half imbedded in a cavity of the scarcely articulate rha-
chis, with one perfect flower, the other on a closely appressed and
often adnate pedicel reduced to 2 or 8 empty glumes; the spikes
terminal and lateral, and with the culm often flattened. Glumes in
the sessile spikelet 4, the outer one thick, appressed and covering
the cavity of the rhachis, the second thinner and convex or keeled,
the third and fourth and the palet in the fourth thin and hyaline.

1. H. fasciculata, A7A. Southeast Texas.

26
Iscuamum, Linn.

Spikelets in pairs in the alternate notches of the articulate
flexuous rhachis of simple spikes, one sessile with one perfect flower
and a male one below it, the other pedicelled and similar or defec-
tive. The sessile spikelet has two thickish outer glumes and two
thin hyaline flowering glumes, the upper one usually awned. The
palea are small and hyaline, sometimes absent.

1. I. leersioides, Junro. Introduced in California.

Hereropogon, Pers.

Spikelets one-flowered, moncecious, in pairs in the notches of the
rhachis of a one-sided spike, one sessile and pistillate, cylindrical,
turned to one side of the spike, the other pedicelled and staminate,
imbricate on the other side of the spike. The lower outer glume is
hard and convolute ; the upper, thinner and keeled ; the third glume
is thin and hyaline; the fourth, or flowering glume, terminated with
a hard, twisted awn; palets very small and thin or wanting.

1. H. econtortus, RP. & 8. (Andropogon contortus, 7.) Texas and
Southwest.

2. H. contortus, var. glaber. Huckel. (H. Allioni, 2. cd S.) West
Texas to Arizona.

3. H. acuminatus, Zrin. (Andropogon melanocarpus, Chap.) South
Carolina to Florida.

Tracuypocon, .Vees.

Spikelets arranged and constituted as in Heteropogon, except that
the sessile spikelet is male and the pedicelled one pistillate.
1. T. polymorphus, Hack., var. Montufari, Hack. (T. Montufari,
Nees.) West Texas to Arizona.

AnpDrRopogon, Linn.

Inflorescence in simple or paniculate spikes. Spikelets in pairs in
the alternate notches of the rhachis, one sessile and fertile, the other
pedicelled and sterile, (either male or empty.) Fertile spikelet with
two more or less coriaceous outer glumes, a third hyaline empty
glume, and the fourth or flowering glume also hyaline and awned.
The sterile spikelet similar, but empty or male only and unawned.
Palet small and hyaline or wanting.

27

This genus is quite largely developed in the United States. They
are perennial grasses, mostly tall, and with tough, wiry stems.
Some of them occur in nearly all parts of the country from New
England to Florida and west to Arizona. They are most abundant,
however, in the Southern States, where they have been employed
for permanent pastures. When they occur in quantity they can be
utilized, but to be of value they should be kept from sending up
their strong stems, as these are universally rejected by cattle and
horses. They are not to be recommended for cultivation, but their
place should as soon as possible be supplanted by more valuable
grasses. They are commonly known as Broom grass or Broom
sedge.

1. A. arctatus, Chap. Florida.

argyreeus, Schultz. (A. argenteus, £7.) Virginia to Texas.

. brachystachyus, Chap. Florida.

Cabanisii, Hack. Pennsylvania, southward.

. cirrhatus, Hack. New Mexico to Arizona.

dissitiflorus, Miche. (A. Virginicus, Zinn.) Massachusetts
to Texas.

. dissitiflorus, var. glaueus, Mack. Florida to Texas.

. dissitiflorus, var. tetrastachyus, Hack. (A. tetrastachyus, £77.)

dissitiflorus, var. vaginatus, Zack. Virginia and southward.

. Elliottii, Chap. Virginia to Texas.

. gracilis, Spreng. Florida.

Hallii, Zack. Kansas to Arizona.

. hirtiflorus, Awnth, var. Feensis, Hack. (A. Feensis, Yourn.)

New Mexico to Arizona.

. hirtiflorus, Awnth, var. oligostachyus, Hack. (A. oligos-

tachyus, Chap.) Florida.

. longiberbis, Hack. Florida.

. macrourus, AMichz. New York to Florida and west to

Southern California.

. macrourus, var. abbreviatus, Hack.

. macrourus, var. corymbosus, Chap.

. macrourus, var. glaucopsis, Chap.

. provincialis, Zam. (A. furcatus, Muhl.) East of Rocky
Mountains.

provineialis, var. pycranthus, Hack.

provincialis, var. Lindheimeri, Hack. Texas.

a a

oO
PR PPR > bb b bbb b> b> bbb bbb

10.

11.
12.

13.

28

A. provincialis, var. geminatus, Hack. Texas.
14. A. saccharoides, Swz. (A.argenteus, D. C.) Texas to Arizona.
15. A. scoparins, Jchz. Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic.
A. scoparius, var. maritimus, Hack. (A. maritimus, Chap.)
Florida. ,
A. scoparius, var. simplex, Hack. Texas to Arizona.
A. scoparius, var. multiramea, Hack. Common.
16. A. tener, Ath. Florida to Texas.
17. A. Wrightii, Hack. New Mexico to Arizona.

A. scoparius forms an important portion of the native grasses of
the prairies in Kansas and Nebraska, extending in some of its forms
to the Atlantic coast.

al. macrourus, or Heavy-topped Broom-grass, is frequent on low,
sandy ground near the coast from New Jersey to Florida, and thence
westward to Arizona.

A. provincialis, or Finger-spiked Broom-grass, frequently also
called Blue-stem in the West, is the tallest of our species. It grows
to the height of 5 or 6 feet, in rocky or hilly ground, or at the West
on the virgin prairies and plains, where it is one of the principal
hay grasses, being extensively cut for winter-feeding.

Curysopocon, 77rin.

Flowers loosely paniculate. Fertile spikelets one-flowered, sessile
between two pedicellate male or barren spikelets at the end of the’
slender branches of the panicle, with, sometimes, one to three pairs
of spikelets on the branch below the terminal three. Fertile spike-
lets with the lower glume larger and coriaceous; the second nar-
rower, thick, keeled, pointed, or awned; the third hyaline and
empty; the fourth or flowering glume hyaline and awned. Palet
minute or none.

1. C. avenaceum, Benth. (Sorghum avenaceum, Chap.) North
Carolina to Texas.

2. C. nutans, Benth. (Sorghum nutans, Gr.) New England to
Rocky Mountains.

This is a tall, perennial grass, having a wide range over all the
country east of the Rocky Mountains. It grows rather sparsely,
and forms a thin bed of grass. The stalks are 3 to 4 feet high,
smooth, hollow, straight, and having at the top a narrow panicle of
handsomé straw-colored or brownish flowers, 6 to 12 inches long,

29

which is gracefully drooping at the top. The spikelets are at the
ends of the slender branches of the loose panicle, generally of a
yellowish color. At the base of each spikelet are two (one on each
side) short, feathery pedicels; the flowers which they are supposed
to have been made to support have entirely disappeared. The outer
glumes are about three lines long, both alike lanccolate, obtusish,
coriaceous, five to seven nerved, the lower one sparsely hairy, and
with hairs at the base and on the stalk below.

3. C. secundum, Benth. (Sorghum secundum, Chap.) Florida.
4. C. Wrightii, Munro. (Sorghum pauciflorum, Chap.) Florida.

Sorcuum, Lers.

Spikelets much as in Chrysopogon, differing chiefly in habit and:
in the glumes of the fertile spikelets becoming more hardened after
flowering.

1. 8. halepense, Zinn. Introduced and sparingly naturalized. John-
son grass. Means’ grass

This grass has been often called Guinea grass, but that name prop-
erly belongs to a quite different plant, Panicum jumentorum, of which.
see an account elsewhere. The underground root-stocks are some-
times half an inch thick, very succulent, and are eagerly sought for
and eaten by hogs. The grass spreads and is readily propagated from
these root-stocks, every joint being capable of developing a new
shoot. Mr. N. B. Moore, of Angusta, Ga., has cultivated this grass.
for over forty years, and prefers it to all others. He says it is
perennial, as nutritious as any other, when once set is difficult to:
eradicate, will grow on ordinary land, and yields abundantly.

Many farmers and planters especially object to this grass hecause:
of the difficulty of eradicating it. But Mr. Hubert Post says it is
not as hard to get rid of as many suppose. He says that one of his
neighbors, in 1878, breke up some 15 acres, which he has since suc-
cessfully planted in cotton with no trouble from the grass. He also
says that in this Johnson grass a kind Providence has given the South
amine of wealth, which could easily be made a foundation for wealth
and prosperity such as the South has never seen. The history of the
grass in this country is said to be as follows:

Governor Means, of South Carolina, obtained some of the seed
from Turkey as early as 1835. He planted it on his plantation,
where it is still called Means grass. In 1840 or 1845 Willian

30

Johnson, of Alabama, obtained some of the seed and sowed it upon
his farm, whence it derived the name of Johnson grass. It is said
to have been introduced into California from Australia, and has there
been cultivated under the name of evergreen millet. It has been
tried in Kansas with very promising results. A farmer there ob-
tained some seed from his brother in California, who had cultivated
it successfully on a very dry soil on an upland farm. This farmer
finds it to be in Kansas perfectly hardy, rapid in growth, affording
three cuttings in one season, and producing a heavy growth of after-
niath for fall grazing. Horses and cattle are fond of it, both in its
dry and green condition. Probably no grass gives better promise
for the dry, arid lands of the West. In Utah it has been ‘cultivated
under the name of Arabian millet grass.

Puatraris, Linn.

Spikelets one-flowered, compressed, densely crowded in an ovoid
or cylindrical spike, or on the short, densely-flowered branches of a
panicle. The outer glumes are acute, boat-shaped, keeled, three-
nerved, the keel in some species bordered by a scarious wing;
within these is the flower, consisting of two glumes, sometimes
culled palets, which are thicker than the outer ones, becoming shin-
ing and coriaceous, obscurely nerved, compressed, enclosing the
stamens and style. Below the flower are one or two small bristles,
which are considered abortive glumes. There is no ordinary two-
nerved palet.

1. P. arundinacea, Zinn. Reed Canary. New England to Vir-
ginia, and westward to the Pacific coast.

A perennial grass, with strong creeping rhizomas, growing from
2 to 5 feet high, usually in low or wet ground. It ranges from
New England and New York westward to Oregon, and northward
to Canada, also in the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania and Vir-
ginia. It is common, also, in the north of Europe. The culm is
stout, smooth, and leafy ; the leaves are mostly from 6 to 10 inches
long and about half an inch wide, the upper ones shorter.

The well-known ribbon grass of the garden is a variety of this
grass, and will, it is said, easily revert to the normal type. In
mountainous regions it may be worth trial for meadows.

2. P. amethystina, Zrin. California and Oregon.
3. P. Canariensis, Zinn. Canary grass. Introduced.

31

4. P. intermedia, Bose. (P. Californica, HZ. & A.)

P. intermedia, var. angusta, Chap. (P. angusta, JVees.)

(Southern reed Canary grass, Gilbert’s Relief grass, Stewart’s
Canary grass, California Timothy grass.)

This species resembles the foreign Canary grass, (Phalaris Cana-
riensis,) which produces the seed commonly sold as food for Canary
birds. It is, however, a taller and more robust species, growing 2
to 3 feet high, with a stout, erect culm and broad linear leaves,
which are from 4 to 10 inches long. The spike is oblong and com-
pact, 1 or 2 inches long. There is a variety called var. angustata,
in which the spike is 3 or 4 inches long. The spikelets are much
like those of the preceding species, (P. arundinacea,) having one
perfect flower and two abortive ones. The outer glumes in P. in-
termedia are lanceolate and nearly alike and have a narrow wing
extending down the keel. The glumes of the fertile flower are
nearly like those of P. arundinacea already described.

This species grows in South Carolina and the Gulf States, extend-
ing to Texas, then stretching across to the Pacific coast and oceur-
ring through California and Oregon. It has frequently been sent
to the Department from the Southern States as a valuable winter
grass.

Mr. Thomas W. Beaty, of Conway, 8. C., writes as follows:

The grass I send you was planted last September, and the specimens were cut on
the 9th of March (following. You will notice that it is heading out and is just
now ina right condition for mowing. It is wholly a winter grass, dying down in
the latter part of April and first of May, and it seems to me should be a great thing
for the South if properly introduced and cultivated, or rather the ground properly
prepared and the seed sown at the right time. It would afford the best of green
pasturage for sheep and cattle all winter. It is what we call Gilbert’s relief grass.

Many years ago Dr. Lincecum, of Texas, experimented with this
grass and recommended it very highly. In California it is called
California timothy, and is said to have little or no agricultural value.
It is an annual or biennial. Professor Phares says:

The variety angustata is much larger and more valuable. It grows 2 to 3 feet
high, and in swamps 5 feet, with many leaves 4 to 10 inches long, the spike some-
what resembling the head of timothy; stock like it well, especially as hay. Mr. D.
Stewart, of Louisiana, having tested other grasses, prefers this for quantity and
quality for winter and spring grazing, and for soiling for milk cows. There is much

testimony from many parts of the South of the same import, and this grass is
doubtless worthy of extended, careful testing.

5. P. Lemmoni, Vasey. Arizona.

32
ANTHOXANTHUM, Linn.

Panicle somewhat spike-like. Spikelets apparently 3-flowered, but
only the terminal one perfect; the lower pair of glumes unequal,
the lower one much smaller than the upper; above these and below
the perfect flower are two short, thin, two-lobed pubescent glumes,
sometimes called abortive flowers, each one with an awn between the
lobes ; the upper or perfect flower is smaller, consisting of one broad,
thin, three-nerved glume, and one (commonly considered the palet)
narrow, one-nerved, hyaline glume. No true palet. Stamens 2, styles
2, distinct.

1. A. odoratum, Zinn. Sweet vernal-grass. Naturalized.

A perennial grass, native of Europe, much employed as a part of
mixed lawn grasses, and also frequently found in meadows. It
grows thinly on the ground, with slender culms, seldom more than
1 foot to 18 inches in height, and scanty in foliage. The panicle is
2 to 3 inches long, uarrow, and close, but expands considerably dur-
ing flowering time. It is very fragrant, and gives a pleasant odor
to hay.

Hierocawoa, Gmelin.

Spikelets three-flowered in an open panicle; the terminal flower
perfect, but with only two stamens, the two lower flowers male only,
each with three stamens; the two outer glumes thin and scarious,
acutely keeled, the glumes of the male flowers thicker, sometimes
short-awned, each inclosing a narrow, thin, bifid, two-keeled palet ;
the upper or perfect flower has a one-nerved glume in place of the
usual palet.

1. H. alpina, #. dS. High mountains.
2. H. borealis, #. @ 8. Northern and subalpine.

This is a perennial grass of northern latitudes, growing in moist
meadows near the coast, also in low marshy ground in some parts
of Illinois and other States bordering the Great Lakes, and in the
mountains of Colorado and northward. The name Merochloa
means sacred, grass, so called because it, with other sweet-scented
grasses, was strewed before the church doors in the north of Europe-
The culms grow from 1 to 2 feet high, with short lanceolate leaves,
and an open pyramidal panicle from 2 to 5 inches long. It is very
sweet-scented and is often used to perfume drawers, &c. It grows

33

commonly in the northern parts of Europe, as Norway, Sweden, and
Russia. It does not appear to be adapted to general cultivation.

3. H. macrophylla, ZAurd. California and Oregon.
4. H. panciflora, 2. Br. Melville Island.

Axopscorvs, Linn.

Flowers crowded in a cylindrical spike. Spikelets one-flowered.
Outer glumes strongly compressed, boat-shaped, keeled, nearly equal,
frequently united at the base; third or flowering glume shorter,
keeled, with a slender dorsal awn, frequently more or less united
below by the opposite margins, and inclosing the stamens and
styles ; without a palet.

1. A. agrestis, Zinn. Sparingly naturalized.

2. A. alpinus, Sm. Rocky Mountains.

3.2 A. cespitosus, Zrin. Northwest America—not since seen.

4. A. geniculatus, Zinn. From Atlantic to Pacific. Water-Fox
tail.

A. geniculatus, var. aristulatus, JZunro. From Atlantic to Pa-

cific. Water-Fox tail.

This species, especially the variety aristulatus, is native to this
country. It is commonly found on the muddy banks of streams
and lakes, and sometimes is found in wet meadows and ditches. It
seldom grows more than a foot in height; the stem is usually bent
at the lower joints, and the sheaths of the leaves are more or less
swollen, especially the upper one. It is of no value for cultivation,
being only useful for the amount of grass it may contribute to the
wild forage where it grows.

5. A. pratensis, Zinn. Meadow Fox-tail. Introduced.

This is a perennial grass, native of Europe, but has been intro-
duced and is frequently found in meadows in the Eastern States.
It has considerable resemblance to timothy, but will be readily dis-
tinguished by an examination. It ordinarily grows about 2 feet
high, but frequently in good soil reaches 3 feet or more. The
culms are erect, with four or five leaves at pretty uniform distances.
The sheaths are long and rather loose, particularly the upper one.
The blade of the leaf is 3 or 4 inches long, about one-quarter inch
wide at the base, and tapering gradually to a point. The panicle
terminates the stalk and is a cylindrical spike 2 or 3 inches long,

3

B+

dense, soft, and with the awns of the flowers conspicuously project-
ing. The spikelets are single-flowered, between two and three lines
long. The outer glumes are strongly compressed, boat-shaped,
keeled, nearly equal, sometimes slightly united together at the base,
and have a line of soft, short hairs on the keels. These glumes
closely inclose the flower, which is of nearly the same length, and
consists of a flowering glume (formerly called the lower palet) and
the floral organs, but without any true palet. This flowering glume
is folded upon itself and incloses the stamens and styles. It gives
rise on its back near the base to a fine awn, which extends two or
three lines beyond the glumes.
Mr. J. 8. Gould says:

It flourishes in May, nearly four weeks in advance of timothy, and ‘is one of the
earliest grasses to start in the spring. Pastures well covered with this grass will
afford a full bite at least one week earlier than those which do not have it. It does
not flourish in dry soils, but loves moist lands ; no grass bears a hot sun better, and
it is not injured by frequent mowings, on which account, as well as for its early
verdure, it is valuable for lawns.

A. pratensis, var. alpestris. Rocky Mountains.

This variety is indigenous in Montana and Idaho, and is very
common along mountain streams, frequently covering acres of
the mountain meadows. It is called in some localities Mvuotain
Timothy. It yields a large quantity of fine bright hay, for which
purpose it is often harvested and highly valued. It has little value
for grazing. Probably under cultivation it would become as useful
as the European form of the species.

6. A. saccatus, Vasey. Oregon.
Aristipa, Zinn.

Spikelets one-flowered in a spicate, or au open brauching panicle
generally on filiform pedicels; outer glumes unequal, often bristle-
pointed ; flowering glume narrow, rolled around the flower, termi-
nating with a trifid awn, or apparently three-awned. Palet small
and thin, inclosed in the flowering glume. _

The grasses of this large genus are either worthless or of little
agricultural value. The perennial species in some localities furnish
a considerable amount of wild forage of an inferior character.
They are very abundant in sandy and sterile soil.

1. A. Americana, Zinn. (A. dispersa, Zrin.) New Mexico and
Arizona.

20.

21.

22.
23.
24,
25.
26.
27.

28.

Se Se eee
>b bbb bb bbb

PPD b> bbb bb

ee

35

. Arizonica, Vasey. Arizona and California.

. basiramea, Engel. Nebraska to Minnesota.

. bromoides, 7. B. HK. New Mexico to California.
. Californica, ZThurd. Arizona and California.

. desmantha, Rupt. Texas.

dichotoma, Zin. Maine to Texas.

. dichotoma, var. Curtissii, Gr. Virginia.

. divaricata, M. B.A. (A. Humboldtiana, Zr.) New Mexico

and Arizona.

. Floridana, Vasey. (Streptachne Floridana, Chap.) Flor-

ida.

. gracilis, Ltd. New England to Texas.
. gracilis, var. depauperata, Gr.
. gyrans, Chap. Florida.

Havardii, Vasey. Texas.

. Jonesii, Vasey. Arizona.

. lanata, 2oir. Delaware to Texas.

. oligantha, Jfichz. Virginia, Dlinois, Arkansas.

. Oreuttiana, Vasey. Arizona.

. Palmeri, Vusey. Arizona.

. palustris, Vasey. (A. virgata, var. palustris, Chap.) Flor-

ida.
purpurascens, Poir. New England to Texas,

. purpurascens, var. minor, Vasey. South Carolina to Texas.

purpurea, Vudt. Great Plains to Arizona.

. purpurea, var. Berlandieri, Zr. Great Plains to Arizona.
. purpurea, var. Californica, Vasey. Arizona to California.
. purpurea, var. Hookeri, Zr. Texas and Southwest.

. ramosissima, /ingel. Illinois and Missouri.

ramosissima, var. uniseta, Hnged. Illinois and Missouri.

. Reverchoni, Vasey. Texas.

. seabra, Chap., non Kunth. Florida.
. Schiediana, Zrin. Texas to Arizona.
. simplicifolia, Chap. Florida.

. spiciformis, #72. Florida.

stricta, Mfichz. North Carolina to Florida and Alabama.

. stricta, var. condensata, V. d@ S. (A. condeusata, Chap.)

Florida.

. tuberculosa, Vuét. Illinois, westward and sonthwest.

36
Sripa, Linn.

Spikelets one-flowered, terete, spicate or paniculate. Outer
glumes membranaceous, keeled; flowering glume narrow, coria-
ceous, rigid, involute, with a simple, twisted awn from the apex;
palet usually small and inclosed by the flowering glume. Stamens
generally 3. The flowering glume has a hardened, often sharp-
pointed and bearded, pedicel or stipe at its base.

This genus has its principal range in the region of the Rocky
Mountains and the Great Plains. They are mostly coarse, rigid
grasses, having little agricultural value. In common with many
other kinds they are usually called Bunch grass, sometimes Beard
grass or Feather grass. The more abundant species are Stipa
spartea, S. comata, and 8. viridula. These prevail from British
America southward, on the plains, and in the mountains. The
genus is particularly distinguished by the awn or beard of the flower-
ing glume, and the sharp-pointed and barbed stipe or base of the
glume. Complaint has been made among stockmen of great injury
to sheep by the penetration of these sharp points into their wool,
and even into their flesh. The awns or feathery appendages are in
some species 4 tv 6 inches long, and are subject to a spiral twisting
when dry, which assists in forcing the seed into the ground for ger-
mination. Stipa avenacea is the only species prevailing in the
Eastern and Southern States, and is of no agricultural importance.
The long, feathery awns of Stipa pennata are beautiful and orna-
mental.

. avenacea, Linn. Wisconsin, New England, and southward.

. chrysophylla, Desv. California and Arizona.

. comata, Zrin. Bunch grass. Rocky Mountains.

. coronata, Zhurb. Arizona and California.

. eminens, Cuv. Arizona and California.

fimbriata, H. B. A. New Mexico and Arizona.

Kingii, Boland. California and Nevada.

Mongolica, Zurcz. Colorado. Alpine.

occidentalis, Zhurb. California, Nevada, and Oregon.

. Parishii, Vasey. Arizona and California.

pennata, var. Neo-Mexicana, Zhurb. West Texas, New
Mexico tu Arizona.

. Pringlei, Scriéner. Arizona.

Richardsonii, Zink. Maine, Lake Superior to Montana.

He Oo 1D

CHAR yg

mow
re
DRNNANDNDNNNM

ao
gt
D™|

37

14. S. setigera, Pres’. New Mexico to California.
15. 8.2 Sibirica, Zam. Rocky Mountains, but doubtful. e

16. 8. Scribneri, Vasey. New Mexico.
17. 8. spartea, Zin. Prairies and plains, Illinois to California.
18. S. speciosa, Zrin. Arizona and California.
19. S. Stillmanii, Boland. California.
20. 8. stricta, Vasey. California, Nevada to Oregon.
21. S. tennissima, Zrin. New Mexico and Arizona.
22. S. viridula, Zrin. Rocky Mountains.
8. viridula, var. pubescens, Vusey. Rocky Mountains.
8. viridula, var. minor, Vasey. Rocky Mountains.

Oryzoprsis, Mich.

This genus differs from Stipa chiefly in having a shorter, ovate or
oblong flower, with the callus at the base shorter and broader, and
in having usually a very short and deciduous awn to the flowering
glume.

1. O. asperifolia, Michxz. Northern States to Colorado.
2. O. Canadensis, Zorr. Northern States to Colorado.
3. O. cuspidata, Benth. (Eriocoma, Nutt.) Rocky Mountains.

This grass has a wide distribution, not only on the Sierras of
California, but northward to British America, and eastward through
all the interior region of Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Colo-
rado, and Nebraska to the Missouri River. It is a perennial, grow-
ing in dense tufts, whence its common name of bunch grass. The
culms are 1 to 2 feet high, with about three narrow, convolute
leaves, the upper one having a long, inflated sheath which incloses
the base of the panicle. The radical leaves are narrow, rigid, and
as long as or longer than the culm. The panicle is about 6 inches
long, very loose, spreading, and flexuons. The branches are in
pairs, slender, rather distant, and are subdivided mostly in pairs.
The spikelets are at the ends of the capillary branches, each one
flowered. The outer glumes are three to four lines long, inflated
and widened below, gradually drawn to a sharp-pointed apex, thin
and colorless except the three or five green nerves, and slightly
hairy. The glumes inclose an ovate flower, which is covered ex-
ternally with a profusion of white, silky hairs, and tipped with a
short awn, which falls off at maturity. This apparent flower is the
flowering glume, of a hard, coriaceous texture, and incloses a similar

3

io 3

hard, but not hairy, and smaller palet. In Montana it is one of the

most esteemed bunch grasses, and thrives on soil too sandy for other

valuable species.

4. O. exigua, Zhurb. (O. Oregona, Trin.?) Oregon to Montana.

5. O. melanocarpa, Muhl. New England, Pennsylvania to Wis-
consin.

O. micrantha, Zhurb. Colorado to Arizona.
. O. Webberi. (Eriocoma, Zhurb.) California.

Miri, Linn.

Spikelets panicled; outer glumes membranaccous, equal and con-
vex, the flowering glume and its palet coriaceons, much as in Pani-
cum, but the articulation with the rhachis is above the outer glumes.
All the glumes are unawned and there is no sterile pedicel.

1. M. effusum, Zinn. New England, New York, and Northwest.

A tall perennial grass, 4 or 5 feet high, growing in damp woods
in the northern portions of the United States and in Canada. It is
also found in Northern Europe and in Russian Asia.

Hon. J. 8. Gould, in the Report of the New York State Agricul-
tural Society, says respecting this grass:

Mountain meadows and borders of streams and cold woods. It thrives when
transplanted to open and exposed situations. It is one of the most beautiful of the
grasses ; the panicle is often a foot long, and the branches are so exceedingly deli-
eate that the small glossy spikelets seem to be suspended inthe air. Birds are very
fond of the seed. Mr. Colman says that he has raised 3 tons to the acre of as good
nutritious hay as could be grown from it, when sown in May. The plants multiply

by the roots as well as by the seed, sending out horizontal shoots of considerable
length, which root at the joint as they extend.

Mvacenserera, Schreb.

Spikelets one-flowered, small, paniculate, articulated above the
outer glumes; flowering glume with a very short, usually hairy
callus. Outer glumes variable in size, from small or minute to
nearly as large as the flowering glume, sometimes bristle-pointed,
keeled, persistent, thin; flowering glume three to five nerved, rigid
or thinnish, mucronate or awned, sometimes with a long capillary
awn from the apex between the short teeth, frequently pubescent
below; palet about as long as the flowering glume and of similar
texture.

1. M. Arizonica, Scribn. Arizona.

39

. arenicola, Buckl. Texas to Arizona.

. Berlandieri, Zrin. Texas to Arizona.

. Calamagrostidea, Zrin. Texas to Arizona.

. Californica, Vusey. South Carolina.

. Californica, var. Lemmoni, Vusey. Arizona.

. capillaris, Ath. New England to Florida and Texas.

capillaris, var. filipes, Chap. (M. filipes, Curt?s.) South
Carolina to Florida.

. capillaris, var. trichopodes. (M. trichopodes, Chap.) Vir-

ginia to Louisiana.
. comata, Benth. (Vaseya, Thurber.) Wooly seeded Muhlen-
bergia. Rocky Mountain region, Colorado to California.

= RRREREE

ne
=

This species grows thronghout the Rocky Mountain region in
Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and California, usually
on the sandy or alluvial banks of streams. It grows in tufts from
firm, creeping root-stocks. There is reason to think it may be a
valuable grass for arid regions. The culms are erect, simple, 2 to 3
feet high, leafy below, the leaves 3 to 6 inches long and roughish,
the upper one at first inclosing the base of the panicle, the joint
slightly pubescent. The panicle is 2 to 4 inches long, narrow, and
close, sometimes interrupted below, gener ally of a purplish lead
color and of soft texture.

8. M. debilis, Zin. Texas to Arizona.
9. M. depauperata, Serzb. Arizona.
10. M. dumosa, Scribd. Arizona.
11. M. diffusa, Schreb. Nimble Will. New England to Mexico.

Professor Killebrew, of Tennessee, says:

It is hardly more than necessary to mention this grass, which forms in many
sections the bulk of the pastures of the woods. It does not grow in fields, but in
woods, where, after rains have set in, it carpets the earth with living green. Various
opinions are entertained as to its nutritive qualities. Some farmers assert that their
stock are fond of it, and that on sufficient range cattle, horses, and sheep will go
into the winter sleek and fat from this vigorous grass. Others regard it as well nigh
worthless. ;

12. M. glomerata, Zrin. Spiked Muhlenbergia.

This grass grows in wet, swampy grounds, chiefly in the northern
and western portions of the United States. It is found in Colorado,
Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. It grows to the height of
2 or 8 feet, stiffly erect, and generally unbranched. The culm is

40

hard, somewhat compressed, and very leafy. The panicle is nar-
row, 2 to 4 inches long, composed of numerous close clusters of flow-
ers, becoming looser below, forming an interrupted glomerate spike.
The spikelets are closely sessile in the clusters. The outer glumes
are linear-lanceolate, gradually tapering into an awn or bristle of
equal length. The flowering glume is one-third to one-half shorter
than the outer glumes and very acute. The root-stock is hard and
knotty and furnished with numerous short, firm shoots or stolons.
In the Eastern States it is utilized as one of the native products of
wet meadows in the making of what is called wild hay. Specimens
have been sent from Colorado and Kansas and recommended as an
excellent grass for hay.

13. M. glomerata, var. ramosa, Vasey. A much branched spreading
form. [Illinois to Colorado and Montana.
14. M. gracilis, Zrin. Rocky Mountains and plains.
M. gracilis, var. major, Vasey. New Mexico.
15. M. gracillima, Torr. Plains, Colorado, and New Mexico.
16. M. Mexicana, Zrin. New England to Mexico.

A perennial grass of decumbent habit, 2 to 3 feet-high, much
branched, from scaly creeping root-stocks. It is frequently found
in moist woods and low meadows, or prairies. It probably would
not endure upland culture, but in its native situations it fills an im-
portant place among native grasses.

M. Mexicana, var. filiformis. With the preceding.

17. M. monticola, Buckley. West Texas to Arizona.

18. M. pauciflora, Buckl. West Texas to Arizona.

19. M. Parishii, Vasey. California.

20. M. pungens, ZAurb. Colorado and New Mexico.

21. M. Pringlei, Scrib. New Mexico and Arizona.

22. M. Reverchonii, Vasey & Scribner. Texas.

23. M. Schaffneri, Fourn. Arizona.

24. M. setifolia, Vasey. West Texas.

25. M. sobolifera, Zrin. New England to Texas.

26. M. subalpina, Vasey. (M. gracilis, var. breviaristata, Vasey.)

Colorado and Wyoming.

27. M. sylvatica, 7.d& G. New England to the Rocky Mountains.

M. sylvatica, var. setiglumis, S. 17 Nevada.

This species has much the appearance and habit of Mf. Mexicana.
The panicle is looser, the spikelets not so densely clustered, and the

41

flowering glume bears an awn two or three times as long as itself.
It is found in dry, open, or rocky woods and fence corners. In
agricultural value it corresponds to that species.
28. M. Texana, Thurb. Texas to Arizona.
29. M. virescens, Zrin. New Mexico and Arizona.
30. M. Willdenovii, Zin. New England to Arkansas.
31. M. Wrightii, Vasey. Colorado to Arizona.
M. Wrightii, var. annulata, Vasey. Arizona.

Bracuyetytrum, Beauv.

Spikelets one-flowered and with a sterile rudiment, appressed, in
a simple racemose panicle; outer glumes minute, unequal, the upper
and larger about half a line long, persistent ; flowering glume char-
taceous, rigid, produced at the apex into an awn 8 to 10 lines long ;
palet hyaline, two-keeled, bifid at the apex. The rudiment (contin-
uation of the rhachilla) is bristle-like, half as long as the palet, and
partly lodged in the groove on its back.

1. B. aristatum, Beauv. Common.

Lycurus, H. B. KH.

Spikelets one-flowered, single on the short branches of the spike-
like panicle, both the outer and the flowering glumes awned; outer
glumes small, membranaceous, the upper, one awned, and the lower,
two or three awned, the awns longer than the flower; flowering
glume and palet of thicker texture (as in Muhlenbergia.) There
are sterile spikelets intermixed with the fertile ones.

1. L. phleoides, H. B. A.

Herxocatoa, Host.

Spikelets one-flowered, perfect, crowded in a spike or spike-like
panicle, which is partly included in the bract-like sheath of the
upper leaf. Outer glumes membranaceous, acute, complicate, cari-
nate, not awned; flowering glume similar, keel thickish and herba-
‘eeous; palet rather shorter, compressed, two-nerved or two-keeled.
1. H. alopecuroides, Host. (Crypsis, Zam.) Introduced on ballast.
2. H. schcenoides, Host. (Crypsis, Zam.) Introduced on ballast.

Puuecum, Linn.

Spikelets one-flowered, in small clusters, crowded into a dense

42

spike-like cylindrical panicle; outer glumes one-nerved, mucronate or
short awned ; flowering glume membranaceons, shorter and broader
than the outer glumes, in our native species truncate and toothed at
the apex; palet hyaline, narrow. In some species there is a small
rudiment or bristle below the flower.

1. P. alpinum, Zinn. Mountain Timothy. Mountains of New
England and Rocky Mountains.

In Montana it grows plentifully at altitudes of 5,000 to 8,000 feet,
where it is often called “ Native Timothy.” Probably in mountain-
ous situations it may become by cultivation as valuable as the next
species. s
2. P. pratense, Zinn. Timothy. Extensively cultivated.

This is one of the commonest and best-known grasses. For a hay
crop it is, perhaps, the most valuable, especially in the Northern
States. The height of the grass depends on the soil and cultiva-
tion. In poor ground it may be reduced to 1 foot, while in good
soil and with good culture it readily attains 3 feet, and occasionally
has been found twice that height. It is a perennial grass with fi-
brous roots. The base of the culm is sometimes thickened and in-
clined to be bulbous. The enlm is erect and firm, with four or five
leaves, which are erect and usually from 4 to 6 inches long. The
tlower spike varies from 2 to 6 inches in length, is cylindrical and
very densely flowered. The spikelets are sessile, single-flowered,
and cylindrical or oblong in ontline. The outer glumes are rather
wedge-form, with a mucronate point or short bristle. The main
nerve on the back is fringed with afew short hairs. The flowering
glume is shorter than the onter ones and thinner, five-nerved, and
toothed at the apex. The palet is thinner in texture and much
narrower.

This grass, as known in cultivation, is supposed to have been intro-
duced from Europe, but it appears to be indigenous in the mountain
regions of New England, New York,and the Rocky Mountains. It
is said that about the year 1711 a Mr. Herd found this grass in a
swamp in New Hampshire and cultivated it. From him it took the
name of Herd’s grass. About the year 1720 it was brought to
Maryland by Timothy Hanson and received the name of Timothy
grass. It is now the favorite and prevailing meadow grass over a
large part of the country.

43

Co.eantuvs, Sed.

Spikelets one-flowered, very small, perfect ; outer glumes wanting;
flowering glume membranaceous, one-nerved, keeled, acuminate or
short aristate ; palet shorter and wider than the flowering glume,
two-keeled, acutely two-toothed. A minute annual grass. Stamens
2, stigmas 2, sessile.

1. C. subtilis, Setd. Sauvie’s Island, Oregon.
Puarprsra, 2. Br.

Spikelets one-flowered, outer glumes minute, unequal, membrana-
ceous ; flowering glume thin, three to four times longer than the
outer ones, obscurely three-nerved, keeled, acute; palet a little
shorter, two-keeled, two to four toothed at the apex.

1. P. algida, Br. Melville Island and Arctic regions.

Svorosotus, /?. Br. (including Vilfa, Beauv.)

Spikelets one, rarely two-flowered in a contracted or open panicle.
Outer glumes unequal, the lower one shorter, often acute, unawned,
one to three-nerved, membranaceous; flowering glume mostly
longer, unawned ; palet about equalling the flowering glume and of
the same texture, prominently two-nerved. Seed mostly loose in a
hyaline or rarely coriaccous pericarp.

1. S. airoides, Zorr.
2. S. arundinaceus, Vasey. (Vilfa, Zin.) Alaska and British
America.

3. 8S. areutus, Ath. var. Arkansana. Texas to Arizona.

4. 8. Arizonicus, ZAurd. (S. interruptus, Vasey.) Arizona.
5. S. asper, Ath. (Vilfa, Beauv.) New England to Texas.
8. asper, var. Hookeri. (Vilfa Hookeri, Zrin.) Texas.

6. S. asperifolius, V. @ MZ British America to Arizona.
7. S. Buckleyi, Vasey. Texas.

8. S. compressus, Ath. New Jersey.

9. S. cryptandrus, Gray. New England to Mexico.

This species has an extensive range. It is common in sandy fields
in the Northern and Southern States, as well as over all the dry
plains west of the Mississippi, extending from British America to
Mexico, furnishing a considerable share of the wild pasturage.

S. cryptandrus, var. flexuosus, Z’hurb. New Mexico to Arizona.

44

S. cryptandrus, var. strictus, Serib. Nebraska to Arizona.
10. S. cuspidatus, Zor. Rocky Mountains, northward.
11. S. depauperatus, Vusey. (Vilfa depauperata, Zorr.) Rocky
Mountain region.
12. 8S. Domingensis, 7rin. Florida.
13. S. Drummondii, Vasey. (Vilfa Drummondii, 772.) Louisiana
to Texas.
14. 8.2? filiculmis. (Vilfa filiculmis, Zhurb.) Texas?
15. S. Floridanus, Chap. Florida.
8. Floridanus, var. Curtissii, Vasey. Florida.
16. S. gracillimus, Vasey. (Vilfa, ZAvrb.) California, Oregon.
17. S. heterolepis, Gray. Sparingly found in Connecticut and
New York; common on prairies from Illinois westward,
and south to Texas.

A writer on the grasses of the Rocky Mountains and plains in the
Agricultural Report for 1870 says :

This species may be identified from its long, slender leaves, growing abundantly
from the base of the plant, gracefully curving and frequently resting their tips on
the ground; from its tendency to grow branches or stools, and when in fruit, from
its small panicle of sharp-pointed spikelets and its round seeds. These when
bruised emit a strong, heavy odor, which has been compared to that of Eragrostis
megastachya when crushed in the hands: but to most olfactories it is much less
offensive, and to some not at all disagreeable. It attains to the average height of
about 24 feet in fruit, but in dry seasons large tracts almost exclusively composed
of this species are without a single fruiting plant. It is sometimes cultivated for
hay, in the absence of the more productive species, and makes an article of fine
quality.

18. S. Indicus, &. Br. Introduced and naturalized.

This grass is a native of India, but has spread over most tropical
and warm climates. It occurs more or less abundantly in all the
Southern States, and is called smut grass, from the fact that after
flowering the heads become affected with a black smut. It grows in
tufts or loose patches, is erect, from 14 to 3 feet high, with an
abundance of long, flat, fine pointed leaves near the base, and a
narrow, termiual panicle frequently a foot in length, composed of
short, erect, sessile branches, which are very closely flowered.

Professor Phares says:

It grows abundantly and luxuriously on many uncultivated fields and commons,
and furnishes grazing from April till frost. It thrives under much grazing and

many mowings, and grows promptly after each if the soil be moist enough. Cattle
and horses are fond of it if frequently cut or grazed down, but if allowed to remain

45

untouched long they will not eat it unless very hungry, as it becomes tough and
unpalatable and probably difficult to digest.

19. S. junceus, A¢A. Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, and southward
to Florida.

20. S. Jonesii, Vasey. California.
21. 8. purpurascens, Hamil. Texas.
22. 8. ramulosus, AtA. Colorado to California, New Mexico, and
Arizona.
23. 8. serotinus, Gr. Maine, New Jersey, Michigan.
24. 8. tenacissimus, Beawy. On ballast. Introduced.
25. 8. tricholepis, Zorr. New Mexico and Arizona.
26. S. vagineeflorus, (Vilfa, Zorr.) Maine to Texas.
8. vagineeflorus, var. tenera, Vasey. Maine to Texas.
27. 8. Virginicus, Ath. Virginia to Texas, near the coast.
28. 8. Wolfii, Vasey. Colorada. A minute species.
29. S. Wrightii, Munro. New Mexico to Arizona.

Erroamess, Presi.

Spikelets much as in Sporobolus, but contracted in a long, narrow,.
and dense panicle. Outer glumes somewhat unequal, membrana-
ceous, convex on the back, scarcely keeled, obtuse, three-nerved ;
flowering glume mostly equalling the outer ones, sometimes three to-
five nerved, entire or sometimes awned from the apex ; palet hyaline,
about equalling the flowering glume, two nerved or two-keeled.

1. E. distichophylla, Vasey. (Muhlenbergia, dfunro.) Texas to-
Arizona.

2. E. macroura, Benth. (Cinna, Ath.) Texas to Arizona.

3. E. rigens, Benth. (Cinna macroura, Zhurb.) Arizona to Cali-
fornia.

Acrostis, Linn.

Spikelets one-flowered in a contracted or open panicle; outer:
glumes nearly equal or the lower rather longer, and longer than the
flowering glume, one-nerved, acute, unawned; flowering glume:
shorter and wider, hyaline, three to five nerved, awnless, or some-
times awned on the back; palet shorter than the flowering glume,,.
frequently reduced to a small scale or entirely wanting. Stamens.
usually 3, grain free.

46

1. A. eqnivalvis, Zrin. (Deyeuxia equivalvis, Benth.) Califor-
nia to Alaska.

2. A. arachnoides, £72. Tennessee to Texas.

3. A. arenaria, Scrib. California.

4, A. asperifolia, Zrin. California.

5. A.canina, Zinn. Mountains of New England to Rocky Moun-

tains.

A grass usually of low size, 6 to 12 inches high, with slender
culms and a light, flexible, expanded panicle, and with a perplexing
variety of forms. There are several varieties growing in mountain-
ous regions throughout the United States, and in Europe. It forms
a close sod, and affords considerable pasturage in those regions.

A. eanina, var. alpina, Oakes. New England.
A. canina, var.rupestris, Gray. (A.rupestris, Chap.) Mountains
North Carolina.
6. A.elata, Zrin. Massachusetts to Texas.
7. A.exarata, Zrin. Wisconsin to Oregon, California, Nevada,
and Arizona.

This is chiefly a northern species, being found in Wisconsin and
westward to the Rocky Mountains, also in British America, and
California to Alaska. It is very variable in appearance, and pre-
sents several varieties. It is generally more slender in growth than
the common red top. The panicle is usually longer, narrower, and
looser. In all the forms the palet is wanting or is very minute.
The form chiefly growing on the Pacific slope from California to
Alaska is often more robust than the A. vulgaris, growing 2 to 3
feet high, with a stout, firm culm, clothed with three or four broad-
ish leaves, 4 to 6 inches long. The panicle is 4 to 6 inches long,
pale green, rather loose, but with erect branches.

A. exarata, var. littoralis, Vasey. Oregon.

8. A. exigna, Zhurb. California.

9. A. foliosa, Vasey. California and Oregon.

10. A. geminata, Zrin. Oregon to Alaska.

Jl. A. grandis, Zrin. California to Alaska.

12. A. humilis, Vusey. Oregon and Washington Territory.
13. A. microphylla, Stewd. Oregon and California.
14. A. mucronata, Pres/. Oregon and California.

15. A. multiculmis, Vasey. South California.
16. A. pallens, Zrin. Oregon and California.

47

17. A. perennans, Tuck. New England to Texas.

18. A. scabra, Willd. New England to Alaska and southward.
A. scabra, var. ceespitosa, Zorr. Mountains of New York.

19. A. Scouleri, Zrin. California to Alaska.

20. A. tenuis, Vasey. Oregon to California.

21. A. varians, Zin. Oregon to California.

22. A. verticillata, V2dz. Texas to California.

23. A. virescens, H. B. A. California.

24. A. vulgaris, With. Naturalized and cultivated. ‘
A. vulgaris, var. alba. (A. alba, Zinn.) Naturalized and cul-

tivated.
A. vulgaris, var. stolonifera. (A.stolonifera, Zinn.) Natural-
ized and cultivated.

Extensively cultivated and known as Red-top, Fine-top, Herd’s
grass of Pennsylvania, Bent grass, &.

A perennial grass, growing 2 or 3 feet high from creeping root-
stocks, which interlace so as to make a very firm sod; the culins are
upright, or sometimes decumbent at the base, smooth, round, rather
slender, and clothed with four or five leaves, which are flat, narrow,
and roughish, from 3 to 6 inches long, with smooth sheaths, and
generally truncate ligules.

Agrostis alba, the Fiorin grass of Ireland, and Agrostis stolonifera
are usually considered synonymous, and are distinguished from A.
vulgaris by having a closer, more verticillated panicle, and with
longer and more acute ligules.

Mr. J. G. Gould says of Agrostis vulgaris :

This is a favorite grass in wet, swampy meadows, where its interlacing, thick
roots consolidate the sward, making a firm matting which prevents the feet of cattle
from. poaching. It is generally considered a valuable grass in this country, though
by no means the best one. Cattle eat hay made from it with.w relish, especially
when mixed with other grasses. As a pasture grass it is much valued by dairymen,
and in their opinion the butter would suffer much by its removal.

Professor Phares, of Louisiana, says respecting this grass: .

It grows well on hill tops and sides, in ditches, gullies, and marshes, but de-
lights in moist bottom land. It is not injured by overflows, though somewhat pro-
longed. It furnishes considerable grazing during warm spells in winter, and in
spring and summer an abundant supply of nutrition. Cut before maturing seed, it
makes good hay and a large quantity. It seems to grow taller in the Southern
States than it does farther north, and to make more and better hay and grazing.

Mr. Flint says:

It is a good permanent grass, standing our climate as well as any other, and con-

48

sequently well suited to our pastures, in which it should be fed close; for if allowed
to grow up to seed the cattle refuse it; and this seems to show that it is not so
much relished by stock as some of the other pasture grasses.

Potypogon, Desf.

Spikelets one-flowered in a contracted, mostly spike-like panicle;
pedicels of the spikelets rather clavate and usually articulated below
the glumes; outer glumes nearly equal and long awned from the
apex; flowering glume smaller, thinner, generally hyaline, and gen-
erally prolonged at the apex into a slender awn; palet thin, some-
times considerably shorter than its glume.

1. P. elongatus, H. B. A. Southern California.
2. P. littoralis, Sm. Introduced. Texas to California.
3. P. Monspeliensis, Desf. Introduced. Atlantic coast to the Pa-
. cific.
Arcragrostis, Gris.

Spikelets one-flowered, in a contracted panicle; rarely with a
minute bristle-like rudiment; outer glumes persistent, thin, the
upper rather longer and three-nerved, the lower one-nerved; flow-
ering glume as long as the onter one, or longer, narrow, lateral
nerves obscure, awnless; palet about as long as its glume, two-nerved,
obtuse, or obtusely two-toothed. A pedicel or rudimentary flower
sometimes present. :

1. A. latifolia, Gris. Arctic coast and Hudson’s Bay.

A. latifolia, var. Alaskensis, Vasey. (? A. latifolia, var. B., Gris.,

not Vilfa arundinacea, Zrin.) Alaska.

Cinna, Linn.

Spikelets one-flowered, much flattened, in an open, spreading pan-
icle; onter glumes lanceolate, acute, strongly keeled, hispid on the
keel, the upper somewhat longer than the lower; flowering glume
manifestly stalked above the outer glumes, about the same length,
three-nerved, short-awned on the back near the apex; palet nearly
as long as its glume, only one-nerved (probably by the consolidation
of two, Bentham ;) stamen 1. A sterile pedicel sometimes present.

1. C. arundinacea, Zinn. Common northward. Wood Reed-grass-

A perennial grass, with erect, simple culins from 3 to 6 feet high, with
a creeping rhizoma; growing in swamps and moist, shaded woods
in northern or mountainous districts. The leaves are broadly

49

linear-lanceolate, about 1 foot long, four to six lines wide, and with
a conspicuous elongated ligule. The panicle is from 6 to 12 inches
long, rather loose .and open in the flower, afterwards more close.
The branches are four or five together below, about 2 inches long,
above in twos or threes and shorter. The spikelets are one-flowered,
much flattened, rather crowded on the branches, frequently purple
colored. The glumes are linear-lanceolate, roughish, acute, and
strongly keeled, mostly three-nerved, firm in texture, about two lines
long, the lower rather the shorter. The flower is short-stalked within
the glumes; the flowering glume is as long as the outer ones, and
of the same texture, rather scabrous and three-nerved, and usually
with a very short awn near the apex. The palet is rather shorter
than its glume, thin and membranaceous, except on the green some-
what rough nerve. This is one of the very rare cases in which the
true palet has only a simple nerve, probably, Mr. Bentham says, by
the consolidation of two. There is but one stamen.

This leafy-stemmed grass furnishes a large quantity of fodder,
but experiments are wanting to determine its availability under cul-
tivation.

2. C. Bolanderi, Scribd. California.
3. C. pendula, Zrin. New England to California.

This species is more slender, with a looser drooping panicle and
more capillary branches, and with thinner glumes. It occurs in the
same situations as the preceding, and is more common in the Rocky
Mountains and Oregon.

Gasrripium, Beauv.

Spikelets one-flowered, in a loose, tapering, spike-like panicle ;
outer glumes extended into long acute points, and with an enlarged
ventricose base, obscurely keeled, the lower longer than the upper;
flowering glumes very thin, about one-fourth as long as the outer
ones, hairy on the back, truncate and dentate at the apex, usually
emitting from near the apex a slender awn as long as or longer
than the glumes; palet thin, as longas its glume. A sterile pedicel
at the base of the flower.

1. G. australe, Beauv. Sparingly introduced.

Aprra, Adans.

Spikelets one-flowered, small, loosely paniculate, the rhachilla
4

50

produced beyond the flower ‘ina short bristle; outer glumes per-
sistent, unequal, thinly membranaceous, keeled, acute, not awned,
upper one larger, three-nerved ; flowering glume somewhat shorter,
membranaceons, apex shortly two-toothed, with a slender awn from
the back below the apex; palet thin, rather shorter than its glume,
two-keeled and two-toothed.

1. A. spica venti, Beauv. (Agrostis spica-venti, Z.) Introduced on

ballast.

Deryervxta, Clarion, (Calamagrostis of American authors.)

Spikelets one-flowered, in a contracted or open panicle, usually
with a bristle-like or penicillate hairy rudiment opposite the palet,
(a continuation of the rhachilla;) outer glumes about eqnal, keeled,
awnless, membranaceons, or scariose; flowering glume usually with
a ring of hairs surrounding its base, entire or two to four toothed,
usnally bearing an awn on the back; palet narrow, thin, two-nerved,
two-keeled.

1. D. Aleutica, Vasey. (C. Aleutica, Zrin.) California to Alaska.
2. D. Bolanderi, Vasey. (C. Bolanderi, Zhurd.) California.

3. D. Breweri, Vasey. (C. Breweri, Zhurb.) California.

+. D. Canadensis, Beauv. Blue joint.

A stout, erect, tall, perennial grass, growing chiefly in wet, boggy
ground or in low, moist meadows. Its favorite situation is in cool,
elevated regions. It prevails in all the northern portions of the
United States, in the Rocky Mountains, and in British America.
In those districts it is one of the best and most productive of the
indigenous grasses. It varies much in luxuriance of foliage and
size of panicle, according to the location. The culms are from 3
to 5 feet high, stont and hollow, hence in some places it is called
the small reed-grass. The leaves are a foot or more long, flat, from
a quarter to nearly half an inch wide, and roughish; the stem and
sheaths smooth.

5. D. confinis, Ath. New York to the Rocky Mountains.

6. D. erassiglumis, Vasey. (C. crassiglumis, ZAurb.) California.

7. D. Cusickii, Vasey. Oregon and Washington.

8. D.? deschampsioides, (C. deschampsioides, 7rin.) California to
Alaska.

9. D.? Halleriana. (? C. Halleriana, D.C.) Washington Territory.

51

10. D. Howellii, Vasey. Oregon and Washington.

11. D. Langsdorfii, Ath. New England to Rocky Mountains.

12. D.? Lapponica, Ath. Canada.to Rocky Mountains.

13. D. Macouniana, Vasey. British America.

14. D.? neglecta, Ath. (C. stricta, Mutt.) Rocky Mountain region.

15. D. Nuttalliana, Vasey. (C. Nuttalliana, Steud.) New Eng-
land to North Carolina.

16. D. Pickeringii, Vasey. (C. Pickeringii, Gr.) New England
to Catiada.

17. D. Porteri, Vasey. (C. Porteri, Gr.) Pennsylvania.

18. D. purpurascens, Ath. Alaska.

19. D. rubescens, Vasey. (C. rubescens, Buckl.) California to
Oregon.

20. D. strigosa, Ath. Alaska.

21. D. sylvatica, th. New England to Rocky Mountains.

22. D. Suksdorfii, Serid. Washington Territory and Oregon.

Ammopuita, Host. (Calamagrostis.)

Spikelets-one-flowered, in a contracted spike-like or an open, dif-
fuse panicle, with or without a bristle-like rudiment opposite the
palet ; outer glumes large, nearly equal, rigid, thick, lanceolate,
acute, keeled, five-nerved ; flowering glume similar in texture, about
equal in length, sometimes mucronate at the apex; palet as long as
its glume, of similar texture, two-kecled, sulcate between the keels ;
hairs at the base of the flower usually scanty and short.

1. A. arundinacea, Host. Sea coast. (Psamma, Beauv.) Beach
grass. Sand grass.

This is the Calamagrostis arenaria of the older books. The en-
tire plant is of a whitish or pale-green color. It grows on sandy
beaches of the Atlantic at least as far south as North Carolina, and
on the shores of the Great Lakes, but has not so far been recorded
from the Pacitic coast. It also grows on the sea-coast of the British
Isles and of Europe. It forms tufts of greater or less extent, “its
long creeping roots extending sometimes to the extent of 40 feet,
and bearing tubers the size of a pea, interlaced with death-like
tenacity of grasp, and form a net-work beneath the sand which re-
sists the most vehement assaults of the ocean waves.” The culms
are from 2 to 8 feet high, rigid and solid; the leaves long, involute,
smooth, rigid, and slender-pointed ; the panicle deuse, 6 to 10 inches

52

long, close and spike-like ; the spikelets are about half an inch long,
compressed, crowded on the very short branchlets.

This grass has no agricultural value, but from time immemorial
its utility in binding together the loose sands of the beach and re-
straining the inroads of the ocean has been recognized and provided
for in some places by law. Mr. Flint, in his work on grasses, says
that the town and harbor of Provincetown, once called Cape Cod,
where the Pilgrims first landed, one of the largest and most im-
portant harbors in the United States, sufficient in depth for ships of
largest size, and in extent to anchor three thousand vessels at once,
owe their preservation to this grass. The usual way of propagat-
ing the grass is by transplanting the roots. The grass is pulled up
by hand and placed in a hole about a foot deep and the sand pressed
around it by the foot. There are undoubtedly many places on the
sea-coast where this grass would be of inestimable value in restrain-
ing the encroachment of the ocean. It would also be useful in
forming a dense turf for the protection of dikes and banks subject
to water-washing.

2. A. brevipilis, Benth. (C. brevipilis, Gr.) New Jérsey.
3. A. Curtissii, Vasey. Florida.
+. A. longifolia, Benth. (C. longifolia, Hook.)

This grass, formerly called Calamagrostis longifolia, has recently
been transferred by Mr. Bentham to the genus Ammophila. It
grows on the sandy plains of the interior from British America to
Arizona, and on the borders of the Great Lakes. It has strong
running root-stalks, like the preceding, but is much taller, the culms
being 3 to 6 feet high, stont and reed-like; the leaves long, rigid,
and becoming involute, with a long thread-like point. The panicle
is quite variable, from + to 16 inches long, at first rather close, but
becoming open and spreading, the branches in the smaller forms
being 2 or 3 inches long, and in the larger ones often 10 or 12 inches
and widely spreading. It is abundant on the plains of Western
Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado, and furnishes @ resource in winter
for food for the cattle of the ranches.

Ara, Linn.

Spikelets two-flowered, small, in a loose or rarely contracted pan-
icle with capillary branches, the rhachis not produced into a bristle ;
outer glumes thinly scarious, nearly equal, acute; flowering glumes

53

shorter, thin, and hyaline, finely pointed or shortly bifid, with a fine
dorsal awn below the middle, which is twisted at the base; palet
two-nerved ; style short.

1. A. caryophylla, Zinn. Introduced and naturalized.

2. A. preecox, Zinn. Introduced and naturalized.

Descuampsia, Beauv. (Aira of authors.)

Spikelets two-flowered, mostly in a loose panicle with slender
branches, rhachis hairy and produced into a hairy bristle, which
rarely bears an empty glume; outer glumes acute, keeled, with sca-
rious margins; flowering glumes obtuse, more or less toothed, with
a fine dorsal awn below the middle. Palet prominently two-nerved,
often two-toothed. Spikelets larger than in Aira.

1. D. atropurpurea, Wahl.? White Mountains.
2. D. cespitosa, Beauv. North and West. Bunch grass.

D. cespitosa, var. Bottnica. (Aira Bottnica, Wath.) California

and Oregon.

_D. cespitosa, var. arctica. Rocky Mountains.

D. cespitosa, var. longiflora, Zrin. California.

This is an exceedingly variable species, having a very wide dis-
tribution in this and other countries. It is rare east of the Missis-
sippi, but on the elevated plains and in the Rocky Mountains, also
in California and Oregon, it is one of the common bunch grasses
which afford pasturage to cattle and horses. In the East it is found
in the hilly regions of New England and the Alleghanies.

3. D. calycina, Presi. (D. danthonioides, Jfunro.) California to
Alaska.

4. D. elongata, Munro. (Aira elongata, Hook.) California to Brit-
ish America.

5. D. flexuosa. (Aira flexuosa, Zrin-) New England, South, and
West.

6. D. gracilis, Vasey. Southern California.

7. D. holeiformis, Prest California.

8. D. latifolia. (Aira latifolia, Hook.) California to Alaska.

CorynEepHorus, Beary.

Spikelets two-flowered, with the rhachilla produced into a short
hairy bristle; glumes much as in Deschampsia, but distinguished by
the peculiar articulate club-shaped awn of the flowering glumes,

54

1. C. canescens, Beauv. Introduced on Ballast ground, Philadel-
phia.

Hoxcus, Linn.

Spikelets two-flowered, crowded in an open panicle, the lower
flower perfect, the upper one male only, and with a minute hairy
rhachilla or rudiment at its base. Outer glumes nearly equal, com-
pressed, membranaceous, large (fully inclosing the two flowers ;)
flowering glumes half shorter, the lowest awnless, the upper with a
short dorsal awn.

1. H. lanatus, Zinn. Velvet grass, Velvet Mesquite, Soft grass.
Introduced from Europe.

A foreign grass, which has been introduced and has become tol-
erably well established in many places. It is a perennial, with a
stout, erect culm, 2 to 3 feet high, the leaves, and especially the
sheaths, densely clothed with soft hairs feeling like velvet. The
culm is leafy and the sheaths loose; the upper ones longer than the
blade, which is three to six lines wide, 4 to 5 inches long, and rather
abruptly pointed. The panicle is open and spreading, rather oblong
in outline, and 4 to 6 inches long. It is not held in good repute as
an agricultural grass in Europe. In this country, especially at the
South, it has frequently been favorably spoken of. Professor
Phares says:

It luxuriates in moist, peaty lands, but will grow on pour, sandy, or clay hill
lands, and produce remunerative crops where few other plants will make anything.
It has been cultivated in North Carolina on such land, and after cutting and allowed
to grow again, plowed under with so much advantage that other crops were subse-
quently produced. Hon. H. W. L. Lewis, of Louisiana, has cultivated this grass
many years with great satisfaction. It is by no means the best of our grasses, but
best for some lands, and on such lands more profitable than other grasses. It seems

to have been greatly improved by acclimating in Texas and other Southern States,
and this is true of some of the other grasses and forage plants.

2. H. mollis, Zinn. Introduced on Ballast ground, Philadelphia.

Douronria, 2. Br.

Spikelets in a contracted panicle, purplish, 2 to 3 flowered, outer
glumes about equal, awnless, scarious, three-nerved, compressed,
acute or produced at the apex, as long as the spikelet; flowering
glumes awnless, scarious, three-nerved, each with a thin ring of
short hairs at the base, palet narrow, two-nerved,

55

1. D. Fischeri, 2. Br. Arctic coast to Hudson’s Bay.
2. D. philosantha, Rup?t. Arctic coast to Hudson’s Bay.

GrapHeEePHorum, Desv.

Spikelets two to three flowered, with a minute sterile pedicel, in a
narrow loose panicle; outer glumes unequal, membranaceous, com-
pressed, acute; the upper one about eqnalling the spikelet, broad above
the middle, the lower one shorter and narrower, one-nerved ; flowering
glumes lanceolate, membranaceous with a scarious margin, com-
pressed, 3 to 5 nerved, acute or obtusish or slightly emarginate and
sometimes mucronate; palet narrow, as long as the glume, two-nerved ;
the flowers surrounded at the base with a ring of soft hairs, and the
rhachis also more or less hairy.

1. G. melicoides, Beawv. New England and Canada.

G. meliciodes, var. major, Gray. Michigan.

2. G. Wolfii, Vasey. (Trisetum subspicatum, var. muticum, Zhurd.)
Rocky Mountains to Oregon, California, and Montana.
3.2G. flexuosnm, Zhurb. Plains and Rocky Mountains.

This is provisionally placed here, but does not agree with the
characters of the genus.

Trisrrum, Pers.

Spikelets two to three, rarely five-flowered, in a dense or open
panicle, the rhachis usually hairy and produced into a bristle at the
base of the upper flower; outer glumes unequal, acute, keeled, mem-
branaceous, with scarious margins; flowering glumes of similar
texture, keeled, acute, the apex two-toothed, the teeth sometimes
prolonged into bristlelike points, the middle nerve furnished with
an awn attached above the middle, which is usually twisted at the
base and bent in the middle; palet hyaline, narrow, two-nerved,
two-toothed.

1. T. barbatum, Steud. California and Oregon.
2. T. canescens, Buckley. California and Oregon.
3. T. cernunm, Zrin. California and Oregon.
These Pacitic coast species deserve further attention with refer-
ence to their agricultural value.

4. T. Hallii, Ser7>. Texas.

56

interruptum, Buckley. Texas to New Mexico.

Ludovicianum, Vasey. Louisiana.

montanum, Vasey. Colorado to New Mexico.

palustre, Zinn. New York to Illinois and southward.

subspicatum, Beawv. Mountains New England to the Pacific.

subspicatum, var. molle, Gr. Mountains New England to
the Pacific.

A perennial grass of the mountainous regions of Europe and
North America. It is found sparingly in New England, on the
shores of Lake Superior, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Utah,
California, Oregon, and northward to the Arctic circle. It varies
in height according to the altitude at which it grows, being some-
times reduced to 3 or 4 inches, at other times running up to 2 feet
high. The culms are erect and firm, smooth, or downy. The pani-
cle is spike-like, dense, and cylindrical or elongated, and more or
less interrupted, generally of a purplish color. The spikelets are
two to three flowered. The flowers are slightly longer than the
outer glumes, slightly scabrous, the flowering glumes acutely two-
toothed at the apex, and bearing a stout awn which is longer than
its glume.

This undoubtedly furnishes a considerable portion of mountain
pasturage.

OO ID
HAAHHAH

Avena, Linn.

Spikelets usually large, two to five flowered, the uppermost gen-
erally imperfect, in a loose panicle, the rhachis hairy below the
flowers; outer glumes nearly equal, lanceolate, acute, scarious ; the
flowering glumes of firmer texture (in some species cartilaginous,)
shortly bifid at the apex, with a long dorsal twisted awn below the
apex; palet similar in texture to its glume, narrow, prominently.
two-nerved, two-toothed.

1. A. barbata, Brot. Introduced in Southern California.
2. A. fatua, Zinn. Wild oats. Introduced in California. Also
found in Texas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

This species is very common in California. It is generally thought
to have been introduced from Europe, where it is native, but it has
become diffused over many other countries, including Australia and
South America. It is thought by some to be the original of the
cultivated oat Avena sativa, that the common oat will degenerate

57

into the wild out, and that by careful cultivation and selection of
seed the wild oat can be changed into the common cultivated oat.
But on this question there is a conflict of opinions, and the alleged
facts are not sufficiently established. The wild oat differs from the
cultivated one chiefly in having more flowers in the spikelets, in the
long brown hairs which cover the flowering glumes, in the constant
presence of the long twisted awn, and in the smaller size and lighter
weight of the grain. It is a great injury to any grain-field in which
it may be introduced, but for the purpose of fodder, of which it
makes a good quality, it has been much employed in California.

3. A. pratensis, var. Americana, Serzb. Montana and British

America.
4. A. Smithii, Porter. Shore of Lake Superior.
5. A. striata, Miche. New England, New York, and northwestward.

ARRHENATHERUM, Beauv.

Spikelets two-flowered in an open panicle, the rhachis-hairy and
produced beyond the upper flower into a stripe or rudiment; the
lower flower male only, the second perfect or female ; outer glumes
unequal, keeled, very thin, acuminate ; flowering glumes five to
seven nerved, that of the lowest or male flower with a dorsal,
twisted awn attached near the base, that of the fertile flower with a
short, straight awn near the tip; palet narrow, hyaline, two-keeled.
1. A. avenaceum, Beau. Meadow oat-grass, Tall oat-grass, Ever-

green grass.

A perennial grass of strong, vigorous growth, introduced from
Europe, and sparingly cultivated. Culms, 2 to 4 feet high, erect,
rather stout, with four or five leaves each; the sheaths smooth, the
leaves somewhat rough on the upper surface, 6 to 10 inches long,
and about three lines wide, gradually pointed. The panicle is loose,
rather contracted, from 6 to 10 inches long, and rather drooping ;
the branches very unequal, mostly in fives, the longer ones 1 to 3
inches, and subdivided from about the middle; the smaller branches
very short, all rather full-flowered. The spikelets are mostly on
short pedicels. The structure of the flowers is similar to that of
common oats, but different in several particulars. The spikelets
consist of two flowers, the lower of which is staminate only, the
upper one both staminate and pistillate; the outer glumes are thin
and transparent, the upper one about four lines long and three-

58

¢
nerved, the lower one nearly three lines long and one-nerved. The -
flowering glume is about four lines long, green, strongly seven-
nerved, lanceolate, acute, hairy at base, roughish, and in the lower
flower gives rise on the back below the middle to a long, twisted,
and bent awn; in the upper flower the glume is merely bristle-
pointed near the apex. The palet is thin and transparent, linear,
and two-toothed. This grass is much valued on the continent of
Europe. The herbage is very productive and its growth rapid.
When growing with other grasses cattle and sheep eat it very well,
but do not like to be confined to it exclusively.
Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says :

It is widely naturalized and well adapted to a great variety of soils. On sandy or
gravelly soils it succeeds admirably, growing 2 to 3 feet high. On rich, dry upland
it grows from 5 to 7 feet high. It has an abundance of perennial, long fibrous roots
penetrating deeply in the soil, being therefore less affected by drought or cold, and
enabled to yield a large quantity of foliage, winter and summer. These advantages
render it one of the very best grasses for the South, both for grazing, being ever-
green, and for hay, admitting of being cut twice a year. It is probably the best
winter grass that can be obtained. It will make twice as much hay as timothy. To
make good hay it must be cut as soon as it blooms, and after cut, must not be wet
by dew or rain, which damages it greatly in quality and appearance. For green
soiling it may be cut four or five times with favorable seasons. In from six to ten
days after blooming the seeds begin to ripen and fall, the upper ones first. It is
therefore a little troublesome to save the seed. As soon as those at the top of the
panicle ripen sufficiently to begin to drop the seeds should be cut off and dried,
when the seeds will all thresh out readily and be matured. After the seeds are ripe
and taken off the long, abundant leaves and stems are still green, and being mowed
make good hay. It may be sown in March or April and mowed the same season;
but for heavier yield it is better to sow in September or October. Not less than 2
bushels (14 pounds) per acre should be sown. The average annual nutriment yielded

by this grass in the southern belt is probably twice as great as in Pennsylvania and
other Northern States.

Danruonta, D.C.

Spikelets three to five, or many flowered, in a panicle or simple
raceme; the rhachis hairy and produced beyond the flowers in a
stipe or imperfect flower; outer glumes narrow, keeled, acute, usually
as long as the spikelet; flowering glumes convex on the back, of
firmer texture, seven to nine nerved, with two rigid or scarious ter-
minal teeth or lobes, and with a flattish, twisted and bent awn be-
tween the teeth; palet broad, two-keeled, obtuse or two-pointed.

1. D. Californica, Boland. Rocky Mountains and California.
2. D. compressa, Aust. Mountain Oat grass.

59

This species grows in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Eng-
land. Mr. C. G. Pringle sends it from Vermont growing on dry
hillocks along the Waterbury River. It also grows on the summit
of the Roan Mountains, North Carolina, over large areas, and fur-
nishes good summer pasturage. Probably it occurs on the other
mountains of the Alleghany range.

3. D. intermedia, Vasey. Rocky Mountains, Oregon, Br. America
to Canada.

4. D. sericea, Mutt. Massachusetts to Florida.

5. D. spicata, Beauv. New England to Texas.

6. D. unispicata, Munro. California, Oregon, and Washington.

Cynovon, Pers.

Spikelets sessile in two rows on one side of the slender spikes,
which are digitate at the end of the peduncle or culm; one-flowered,
with a short pediceled, naked rudiment of a second flower; outer
glumes nearly equal, keeled; flowering glume boat-shaped, broader,
prominently keeled ; palet narrower, prominently two-keeled.

1. C. dactylon, Fers. Bermuda grass. Naturalized and cultivated.

A low, creeping perennial grass, with abundant short leaves at
the base, sending up slender, nearly leafless flower stalks or culms,
which have three to five slender, diverging spikes at the summit.
The spikelets are sessile in two rows on one side of the slender
spikes; they each have one flower, with a short, pediceled, naked
rudiment of a second flower; the onter glumes nearly equal, keeled ;
the flowering glume boat-shaped, broader, and prominently keeled ;
the palet narrow and two-keeled. This grass is a native of Southern
Europe and of all tropical countries. It is 1 common pasture grass
in the West Indies. In the Southern States it has long been a chief
reliance for pasture, has becn extravagantly praised by some, and
cursed by others who find it difficult to eradicate when once estab-
lished. Its properties have been very fully discussed in Southern
journals. It rarely ripens any seed, and the usual methods of re-
producing is to chop up the roots with a cutting knife, sow them
broadcast, and plow under shallow.

Col. T. C. Howard, of Georgia, says :

The desideratum to the South is a grass that is perennial, nutritious, and adapted

to the climate. While we have grasses and forage plants that do well when nursed,
we have few that live and thrive here as in their native habitat. The Bermuda and.

60

crab grasses are at home in the South. They not only live, but live in spite of neg-

lect, and when petted and encouraged they make such grateful returns as astonish
the benefactor.

Professor Killebrew, of Tennessee, says :

In Louisiana, Texas, and the South generally it is and has been the chief reliance
‘for pasture for a long time, and the immense herds of cattle on the Southern prairies
subsist principally on this food. It revels in sandy soils, and has been grown ex-
tensively on the sandy hills of Virginia and North and South Carolina. It is used
-extensively on the Southern rivers to hold the levees and embankments of the roads.
It will throw its runners over a rock six feet across, and soon hide it from view, or it
will run down the sides of the deepest gully and stop its washing. Hogs thrive upon
its succulent roots, and horses ancl cattle upon its foliage. It has the capacity to
withstand any amount of heat and drought, and months that are so dry as to check
‘the growth of blue grass will only make the Burmuda green and the more thrifty.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says:

As a permanent pasture grass, I know of no other that I consider so valuable as this,
after having transferred it from near the mouth of the Red River to my present resi-
-dence, thirty-five years ago, and having studied it on hundreds of other farms, com-
mons, and levees for a longer period. To make good hay and the largest yield this
grass must be mowed from three to five times every summer Thus briers, broom

grass, and other weeds are repressed and prevented from seeding, multiplying, and
Tuining the meadow. -

Crenium, Panz.

Spikelets densely imbricated in two rows on one side of the rhachis
of the usually solitary terminal spike, elegantly pectinate, with one
perfect and one or more imperfect or neutral flowers; outer glumes
very unequal, the lower small, the upper large and bearing on the
middle of the back a recurved awn tuberculate at the base; usually
only one of the flowering glumes has a palet ; glumes of the perfect
and lower imperfect ones are mucronate or aristate at the apex, the
upper imperfect ones awnless.

1. C. Americanum, Spreng. Southern States.

Cutoris, Sw2z.

Spikelets crowded in two rows on one side of simple spikes which
are digitate or fasciculate at the summit of the culm; one (the lower)
perfect, and one to several imperfect flowers in each spikelet ; outer
glumes thin, keeled, awnless; flowering glumes of thicker texture,
obtuse, usually awned, sometimes truncate and obtuse; palet folded,
with two prominent nerves.

1. C. cucullata, Bisch. Texas and Arkansas.
2. C. elegans, H. B. X. (C. alba, Presl.) Texas to Mexico.

61

C. Floridana, (Eustachys Floridana, Chap.) Florida.

C. glauca, (Eustachys glauca, Chap.) Florida.

C. Swartziana, Doell. (Chloris petreea, Swz.) Florida to Texas.
C. verticillata, Vutt. Texas.

3
4
5
6

Tricuioris, Fournier.

Spikelets sessile in two rows on the rhachis of long spikes which.
are crowded, or in approximate verticils, near the apex of the culm;
like Chloris the spikelets have one (the lower) perfect, and from
one to three imperfect flowers, the glumes of which are three awned
at the apex; outer glumes anequal, acute or the upper aristate; palet
of the fertile flower narrow, hyaline, two-nerved.

1. T. pluriflora, Hourn. Texas to Arizona.
2. T. verticillata, Mourn. Texas to Arizona.

Gymnopogon, Beauv.

Spikelets sessile and remotely alternate on. long and filiform
branches of the panicle, each with one, or rarely two perfect flowers.
and a bristle-like rudiment, or an awn-like pedicel; outer glumes
long lanceolate, as long as the spikelet, nearly equal, keeled, acute ;
flowering glume cylindrical, involute, two-toothed or lobed at the
apex, and from the midrib a straight slender awn; palet included in
its glume, narrow, two-keeled ;- glume of the imperfect flowers also-
terminated with a long awn.

1. G. brevifolius, Zrin. Southern States, Delaware.
2. G. ragemosus, Beauv. New Jersey and southward to Texas.

Scueponnarpvous, Steudel.

Spikelets one-flowered, solitary at each joint of the slender trian-
gular rhachis of the paniculate spikes, and partly immersed in an
excavation; the spikes alternate and distant ; outer glumes acumi-
nate, unequal, the longer equaling the flowering glume, which is
linear-acuminate, and thickish at the keel; palet shorter and thinner.
1. S. Texanus, Stewdel. (Lepturus paniculatus, Wut.) Tlinois to.

Texas, northward to Colorado, Kansas, Montana.

Bovrexova, Lag.

Spikes single, or numerous in a racemose, commonly one-sided

62

panicle; spikelets commonly densely crowded in two rows on one
side of the rhachis, each consisting of one perfect flower, and a
stalked pedicel bearing empty glumes and one to three stiff awns;
outer glumes unequal, acute, keeled, membranaceous; flowering
glume broader, usually thicker, with three to five lobes, teeth, or
awns at the apex; palet narrow, hyaline, entire or two-toothed, en-
folded by its glume.

1. B. aristidoides, Thurd. Texas to Arizona.

2. B. bromoides. (Dinebra bromoides, H. B. HK.) Arizona.

3. B. Burkei, Sc77b. Texas.

4. B. criopoda, Zorr. Texas.

5. B. Havardii, Vasey. Texas to Arizona.

6. B. hirsuta, Zag. (B. foena, Zorr.) Texas to British America.
7. B. juncifolia. (? B. Humboldtiana, Gris.) Texas to Arizona.
8. B. oligostachya, Zorr. Grama, Mesquite grass. Texas to Brit-

ish America.
B. obligostachya, ? var. major, Vasey. Texas to Arizona.

This is the commonest species on the Great Plains. It is fre-
quently called Buffalo grass, although that name strictly belongs to
another grass, (Buchlvé dactyloides.) On the arid plains of the
West it is the principal grass, and is the main reliance for the vast
herds «f cattle which are raised there. It grows chiefly in small,
roundish patches, closely pressed tu the ground, the foliage being
in a dense, cushion-like mass. The leaves are short and crowded at
the base of the short stems. The flowering stalks seldom rise over
a foot in height, and bear, near the top, one or two flower spikes,
each about an inch long, and from one-eighth to one-quarter of an
inch wide, standing out at right angles, like a small flag floating in
the breeze. Where much grazing prevails, however, these flowering
stalks are eaten down so much that only the mats of leaves are ob-
servable. In bottom lands and low, moist, ground it grows more
closely, and under favorable circumstances forms a pretty close sod,
but even then it is not adapted for mowing, although it is some-
times cut, making a very light crop. Under the most favorable
circumstances the product of this grass is small compared with the
cultivated grasses. It is undoubtedly highly nutritious. Stock of
all kinds are fond of it, and eat it in preference to any grass grow-
ing with it. It dries and cures on the ground, so as to retain its
nutritive properties in the winter. No attempt is made by stock-

63

men to feed cattle in the win'er. They are expected to “ rustle
around,” as the phrase is, and find their living, and in ordinary win-
ters, as the fall of snow is light, they are enabled to subsist and
make a pretty good appearance in the spring. But in severe win-
ters there are losses of cattle, sometimes very heavy.

9. B. polystachya, Zorr. (Chondrosium, Benth.) Texas to Arizona.

B. polystachya, var. major, Vasey. Texas to Arizona.

10. B. prostrata, Zag. (B. pusilla, Vasey.) Colorado to Arizona.
11. B. racemosa, Zag. (B. curtipendula, Gr.)

This species ranges from Mexico to British America, and east of
the Mississippi River in Wisconsin and Illinois. It is easily distin-
guished from the others by its taller growth, and by the long, slen-
der raceme of twenty to fifty or more slender spikes. These are
usually about half an inch long and reflexed. There are from six
to ten spikelets on each spike.

12. B. Rothrockii, Vasey. Arizona and New Mexico.
13. B. Texana, Watson. (B. aftinis, of some.) Texas.
14. B. trifida, Ziurd. Texas to Arizona.

Exvevsine, Gaert.

’

Spikes two to five or more, digitate at the summit of the culm,
sometimes a few scattering ones lower down; spikelets sessile and
crowded along one side of the rhachis, two to six or more flowered,
the uppermost flowers imperfect or rudimentary; outer glumes
membranaceous, shorter than the spikelet; flowering glumes usually
obtuse ; palet folded, two-keeled.

1. E. Indica, Gaert. Yard-grass, Crow-foot, Crab-grass, Wire-grass.
Introduced.

An annual grass belonging to tropical countries, but now natural-
ized in most temperate climates. In the Southern States it is found
in every door-yard and in all waste places. The culms are from 1

‘to 8 feet high, usually coarse and thick, and very leafy, especially
below. The leaves are long and rather wide. At the top of the
culm there are two to five or more thickish, densely-flowered spikes
proceeding from a common point, with sometimes one or two scat-
tering ones lower down on the culm. The spikelets are sessile and
crowded along one side of the axis, each being from two to six flow-

64

ered, the upper flower imperfect or rudimentary; the outer giumes
are membranaceous, shorter than the flowers, the flowering glumes
usually obtuse ; the palet folded and two-keeled.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says:

The clumps have many long leaves and stems, rising 1 or 2 feet high, and many
long, strong, deeply penetrating fibrous roots. It grows readily in door-yards, barn-
yards, and rich cultivated grounds, and produces an immense quantity of seeds. It
is a very nutritious grass, and good for grazing, soiling, and hay. The succulent
lower part of the stems, covered with the sheaths of the leaves, renders it difficult to
cure well, for which several days are required. It may be cut two or three times,
and yields a large quantity of hay.

2. E. Zgyptiaca, Pers. (Dactylotenium, Gaert.) Introduced.
Crowfoot.
3. E. Barcinomensis, Costa. Introduced on Ballast.

Leprocutoa, Beauv.

Spikelets several (rarely one) flowered, perfect, sessile in two rows
along one side of the slender, usually numerous spikes or branches
of the panicle; outer glumes keeled, obtuse or acute, awnless, or
mucronate; flowering glumes usually obtuse, prominently nerved,
awnless ; palet prominently two-nerved.

1. L. Langloisii, Vasey. Louisiana.
2. L. mucronata, AtA. Throughout the West.
3. L. Nealleyi, Vasey. Texas.

Bucuroé, Lngelm.

Spikelets dicecious, or rarely moncecions, heteromorphous.

Male plant.—Spikelets two or three flowered in short one-sided
two-rauked spikes, of which there are two or three at the summit of
the culm; spikes four to five lines long, composed of five or six
closely approximated spikelets; outer glumes unequal, one-nerved,
the lower one half as long as the flower above it, the upper shorter ;
flowering glumes and palets of equal length, membranaceous, the
flowering glume three-nerved, the palet two-nerved.

Female plant.—Spikelets closely approximated in short capitate
spikes, which are mostly near the ground, and partly inclosed in the
bract-like sheaths of the upper leaves; spikelets one-flowered, all the
upper glumes indurated and cohering at their bases with the thick-
ened rachis, the lower glume of the lowest spikelet lanceolate with
an herbaceous tip, or two or three cleft, thickened and adnate to the

65

upper glume; the lower glumes of the other spikelets free, much
smaller, membranaceons, ovate-lanceolate, acute, one-nerved, the flow-
ering glume shorter, three-nerved, tricuspidate ; palet two-nerved.

1. B. dactyloides, Hng/. Buffalo grass. Mexico to British America.

This grass is extensively spread over all the region known as the
Great Plains. It is very low, the bulk of leaves seldom rising more
than 3 or 4 inches above the ground, growing in extensive tufts or
patches, and spreading largely by means of stolons or offshoots sim-
ilar to those of Bermuda grass, these stolons being sometimes 2 feet,
long, and with joints every 3 or 4 inches, frequently rooting and
sending up flowering culms from the joints. The leaves of the
radical tufts are 3 to 5 inches long, one or one-half line wide, smooth,
or edged with a few svattering hairs. The flowering culms are
chiefly dicecious, but sometimes both male and female flowers are
found on thesame plant but in separate parts. Next to the Grama
grass it is perhaps the most valuable grass in the support of the
eattle of the Plains.

Papporpuorum, Schreb.

Spikelets in a dense spike-like, or narrow and loose, panicle, with
two to four approximate flowers, usually only the lowest perfect, the
others male or rudimentary; outer glumes membranaceous, many-
nerved, awnless; flowering glumes broader and thicker, convex on
the back, pubescent, produced above into nine to thirteen straight,
subulate awns; palet smaller, two-keeled.

1. P. apertum, Munro. Texas to Arizona.
2. P. Wrightii, Watson. (P. boreale?) Texas to Arizona.

Corrna, Ath.

Flowers in a loose contracted panicle; spikelets six to nine flow-
ered, of which the two or three lower are perfect and the upper male
or neutral; outer glumes membranaceous, acute, convex on the back,
prominently many-nerved, one to three toothed at the apex; rhachis
and base of flowers hairy; flowering glumes broad, convex on the
back, somewhat five-lobed, nine to eleven awned, the awns straight
and unequal; palet two-keeled, bifid at apex.

1. C. pappophoroides, Ath. Texas and Southwest.
5

66
Triopia, 72. Br. (Tricuspis, Beaun.)

Spikelets several to many flowered in a strict spike-like or an
open spreading panicle, some of the upper flowers male or imper-
fect; outer glumes keeled, acute or acutish, awnless; flowering
glumes imbricated, rounded on the back, at least below, hairy or
smooth, three-nerved, either mucronate, three-toothed or three-lobed
at the apex, or obscurely erose, often hardened and nerveless in
fruit; palet broad, prominently two-keeled.

1. T. acuminata, (Tricuspis acuminata, Munro.) Texas to Ari-
zona.

albescens, (Tricuspis albescens, Jfun70.) Texas to Arizona.

ambigua, (Tricuspis ambigna, Chap.) Texas to Arizona.

avenacea, H. B. H. Texas to Arizona.

eragrostoides, Vasey and Scribner. Florida.

mutica, (Tricuspis mutica, Zorr.) Texas to Arizona.

pulchella, ZH. B. H. Texas to Arizona.

pulchella, var. parviflora, Vasey. Texas to Arizona.

seslerioides, (Tricuspis, Zorr.) New York to Texas. Tall
Red top.

sags Be ey ee
RRR ERE

This grass grows from 3 to 5 feet high. The culms are very
smooth ; the leaves are long and flat, the lower sheaths hairy or
smoothish. The panicle is large and loose, at first erect, but finally
spreading widely. The branches are single or in twos or threes be-
low, and frequently 6 inches long, divided, and flower-bearing above
the middle. The spikelets are on short pedicels, three to four lines
long, and five or six flowered. The outer glumes are shorter than
the flowers, unequal and pointed; the flowering glumes are hairy
toward the base, having three strong nerves, which are extended
into short teeth at the summit. It is a large and showy grass when
fully matured, the panicles being large, spreading, and of a purplish
color, It grows in sandy fields, and on dry sterile banks, from New
York to South Carolina, and westward. This is eaten by cattle
when it is young, but the culms are rather harsh and wiry and not
relished by them. It is, however, cut for hay, where it naturally
abounds.

9. T. stricta, (Tricuspis, Vudt.) Texas to Arizona.
10. T. Texana, S. W. (Tricuspis, Zhu7d.) Texas to Arizona.
11. T. trinerviglumis, (Tricuspis, Benth.) Texas to Arizona,

67
Dieracuane, Beauv.

Spikelets many-flowered, narrow, sessile or nearly so, and distant
on the long slender branches of the panicle, usually in two rows,
but not regular as in Zeptochloa ; outer glumes keeled, acute, not
awned ; flowering glumes one to three nerved, with a thin or hyaline
shortly two-lobed apex, the keel produced into a short point or awn
between the lobes; palet thin, prominently two-nerved.

1. D. biflora, Seridb. Arizona.

2. D. dubia, Benth. (Leptochloa dubia, ees.) Florida to Texas.

8. D. fascicularis, Benth. (Leptochloa fascicularis, @r.) New Eng-
land to Arizona.

An annual grass of vigorous growth, 2 to 3 feet high, growing in
brackish marshes or wet ground near the sea-coast, and also far in-
land in the Mississippi Valley, Texas, Arizona, &c., in alkaline soil.
4. D. imbricata, (Leptochloa, Zhurb.) Arizona.

5. D. rigida, (Leptochloa, Munro.) Florida to Texas.
6. D. viscida, Serib. Texas to Arizona.

Tripiasis, Beauv.

Panicle simple and scanty, partly included in the leaf-sheath ;
spikelets remotely two to five flowered; outer glumes much shorter
than the flowers, membranaceous, one-nerved ; flowering glumes two-
lobed or two-cleft, the midnerve extended into an awn betwcen the
lobes, three-nerved, strongly fringed on the nerves; palet shorter,
two-keeled, long ciliate on the keels.

1. T. Americana, Beauv. (Uralepis cornuta, Vutt.) South.
2. T. purpurea, Chap. (Uralepis purpurea, Wut.) North and South.
3. T. sparsiflora, Chap. Florida.

Errmocate, S. Watson.

Panicle short and contracted, simple, or nearly so; spikelets four-
flowered, the two lower flowers neutral, the third flower perfect and
fertile, the uppermost reduced to a stipitate villous triple awn ; outer
glumes membranaceous, carinate, one-nerved, acute, glabrous, nearly
equal; flowering glumes three-nerved, two-cleft to the middle, the
nerves strongly villous, extended into awns, of which the middle one
is longest; the lobes in the neutral flowers obtuse, in the perfect

68

flower attenuate. Palets shorter, two-keeled, two-toothed at the
apex.

1. E. Bigelovii, S. W. New Mexico.

2. E. Kingii, S. W. Nevada.

Scieropocon, Philippi.

Spikelets unisexual, two to many flowered, in a narrow, scanty
panicle, the rhachilla elongated in each sex. Male spikelets, rha-
chilla glabrous, inarticulate, glumes paleaceous, narrow, acute, un-
awned, three-nerved, the lower ones a little shorter and unequal,
the flowering ones sometimes minutely three-toothed at the apex,
the middle tooth mucroniform, palet narrow, rigid, about as long
as the glume, two-keeled, two-toothed. Female spikelets, one to
many flowered, the upper ones sterile, the two lower glumes per-
sistent, very unequal, larger than in the male spikelets, flowering
glumes many, rigid, narrow, convolute around the flower, the three
nerves or ribs produced into very long, slender, rigid, often some
what twisted awns, with three short, lanceolate hyaline lobes on the
margin of the lateral awns and between the awns, the upper sterile
flowering glumes similar; palet rigid, narrow, included in the flow-
ering glumes.

1. S. Karwinskianus, Benth. Texas to Arizona.

Arunpo, Linn.

Tall grasses with an ample panicle, spikelets two to many flowered,
the flowers rather distant, silky, villous at the base and with a con-
spicuous silky-bearded rhachis, all perfect; outer glumes narrow, un-
equal, glabrous, lancevlate, keeled, acute; flowering glumes mem-
branaceous, slender, awl-pointed; palets much shorter than the
glumes, two-keeled, pubescent on the keels.

1. A. Donax, Zinn. Giant Reed Grass. Texas and Arizona.

This grass is often cultivated for its very ornamental plumes. It
is a native of Southern Europe, but is well established on the bor-
ders of the Rio Grande river, where it is probably indigenons.

Puraemires, Z'rin.

Only differing from Arundo in the lowest flower of the spikelet
being male only and glabrous.

69

1. P. communis, Zrin. Reed Grass. New York to Texas and the
Rocky Mountains.

A tall, coarse, perennial grass, growing on the borders of ponds
and streams, almost rivalling sorghum in luxuriance. It attains a
height of 6 to 10 feet; the culms sometimes an inch in diam-
eter, and leaves an inch or two in width. The panicle is from 9 to
15 inches long, loose but not much spreading, of an oblong or lan-
ceolate form and slightly nodding. The branches are very
numerous, irregularly whorled, 4 to 8 inches long, much subdivided,
and profusely flowering. The larger panicles form very ornamental
plumes, almost equal to those of Arundo Donazx, so much cultivated
for ornamental purposes. It sometimes attains the height of 15 feet.

Mowantuocutirz, E’ngelm.

Spikes very short, two to three flowered, dicecious, sessile, single
or fascicled at the distant nodes of the culm, terminating short,
leafy-bracted branches, almost hidden by and seeming like a con-
tinuation of them, very similar in the two sexes; outer glumes
similar to the distichous leafy bracts; flowering glumes linear,
rigid, obtuse; palets hyaline, two-nerved, infolding the stamens or
styles.

1. M. littoralis, Hngelm. Near the coast, Florida, Texas, to Cali-
fornia. .
Munroa, Zor.

Spikelets two or three together in small, sessile, leafy heads or
clusters terminating the numerous fasciculate and lateral branches,
and at the nodes, each about. three-flowered, the upper flower imper-
fect ; outer glumes shorter than the flowers, lanceolate, acute, hya-
line one-nerved ; flowering glumes larger, herbaceous, rather rigid,
three-nerved, entire or two-toothed, the central nerve excurrent in a
mucro or short awn; palets hyaline, narrow, two-keeled, complicate.

1. M. squarrosa, Zorr. Arid plains of the West.

Lamarcsia, MGench.

Panicle short and dense, the spikelets one-sided on the crowded
branches, fertile and sterile intermixed in small clusters; fertile
spikelets short and two-flowered, the lower flower perfect, the upper
one rudimentary and long-awned, outer glumes lanceolate-subulate,

70

one-nerved, thin, about equalling the spikelet, flowering glume
stalked, oblong, chartaceous, five-nerved, bifid, and emitting between
the teeth a slender awn ; sterile spikelets slender, with ten to twelve
distinct, broadly-obtuse, empty glumes above the two lower, much
longer, linear, acute ones.

1. L. aurea, Moench. Introduced. California.

Kateria, Pers.

Spikelets three to five flowered, compressed, numerous in a dense,
spike-like cylindrical or interrupted panicle; outer glumes mem-
branaceous, keeled, unequal, lanceolate, about as long as the spike-
let, scarious on the margin; flowering glumes similar, more scarious
or hyaline, rarely mucronate, the upper one usually smaller and im-
perfect; palet very thin, acutely two-keeled, two-toothed.

1. K. cristata, Pers. Common. Pennsylvania to Rocky Moun-
tains, California, Oregon, &c.

This grass has a very wide diffusion both in this country and in
Europe and Asia. It favors dry hills or sandy prairies, and on the
great plains is one of the commonest species. It occurs throughout
California and into Oregon. It varies much in appearance, accord-
ing to the location in which it grows, these variations being so strik-
ing that they have been considered different species, and perhaps
two species ought to be admitted. It is perennial, with erect culms
usually from 1 to 2 feet high, and a spike-like panicle varying from
3 to-6 inches in length, and more or less interrupted or lobed at the
lower part. When grown in very arid places the culms may be
only a foot high, the radical leaves short, and the panicle only 2
inches long. When grown in more favored situations the radical
leaves are 18 inches long, the stem 3 feet, and the panicle 6 inches
long. The branches of the panicle are, in short, nearly sessile clus-
ters, crowded above, looser and interrupted below. The spikelets
are from two to four flowered. On the prairies west of the Missis-
sippi it is one of the commonest and most useful of the grasses.
In Montana it is sometimes called June grass.

Earonia, Raf.

Spikelets usually two-flowered and with an abortive rudiment or
pedicel, numerous, in a contracted or slender panicle, very smooth ;
outer glumes unequal, the lower narrowly linear, keeled, one-nerved,

71

the upper broadly obovate, shorter than the spikelet, three-nerved,
not keeled, scarious margined; flowering glumes oblong, obtuse,
compressed, chartaceous; palet narrow, hyaline.

1. E. obtusata, Gr. Common. Pennsylvania to Oregon.

2. E. Pennsylvanica, Gr. Common. New England to Montana.
E. Pennsylvanica, var. filiformis, Chap. Florida.
E. Pennsylvanica, var. major, Vasey. New Mexico.

Dissantueticem, 7rin.

Spikelets two to four flowered, all fertile, in a narrow panicle ;
outer glumes herbaceous, narrow, and acute, keeled, the lower one-
nerved, the upper three-nerved, both much longer than the flowers ;
flowering glumes ovate, obtuse or obtusish, obtusely keeled, three
to five nerved, the outer nerves near the margin, scarious at the tip,
pubescent, especially on the marginal nerves and keel; palet nar-
row, strongly two-keeled, nearly equalling its glume.

1. D. Californicum, Benth. (Stenochloa Californica, Vutt.) Cal-
ifornia.
CataBrosa, Beauv.

Spikelets two to three flowered, in a loose panicle; outer glumes
hyaline-membranaceous, shorter than the flowers, the lower short
and narrow, the upper obovate, three-nerved, erosely dentate at the
apex; flowering glumes membranaceous, obtuse, prominently three-
nerved ; palet little shorter than its glume, prominently two-keeled.
An aquatic grass. :

1. C. aquatica, Beauv. Rucky Mountains and British America to

Alaska.
Eragrostis, Host.

Spikelets several, usually many-flowered, pedicellate or sessile, in
a loose and spreading, or narrow and clustered, panicle, the rhachis
of the spikelet usually glabrous and articulate under the flowering
glumes, but often tardily so and sometimes inarticulate. Outer
empty glumes unequal and rather shorter than the flowering ones,
keeled, one-nerved; flowering glumes obtuse or acute, unawned,
three-nerved, the keel prominent, the lateral nerves sometimes very
faint; palet shorter than the glume, with two prominent nerves or
keels, often persisting after the glume and grain have fallen away.

1. E. alba, Pest. New Mexico and Arizona.

72

2. E. Brownei, Vees.? Florida. ;
3. E. campestris, Zrin. (E. nitida, Chap.) Delaware to Texas.
4, E. capillaris, Zinn. Common. New England to Texas.
5. E. ciliaris, Zin’. Florida to Texas.
E. ciliaris, var. patens, Chap. Florida.
6. E. conferta, Zrin. Florida to Texas.
7. E. curtipedicellata, Buckl. Texas.
8. E. Frankii, Meyer. Common. Pennsylvania to Kansas.
9. E. glutinosa, Zrin. (3500 Curtiss’ fascicle.) Florida.
10. E. lugens, ees. Texas to Arizona.
11. E. Mexicana, Zink. Texas and New Mexico.
12. E. major, Host. (E. powoides, var. megastachya.) Introduced.

This is a foreign grass which has become extensively naturalized,
not only in the older States but in many places in the western and
southwestern Territories. It is found in waste and cultivated
grounds and on roadsides, growing in thick tufts, which spread out
over the ground by means of the geniculate and decumbent culms.
The culms are from 1 to 2 feet long, the lower joints bent and giv-
ing rise to long branches. The sheaths are shorter than the inter-
nodes, the leaves from 3 to 6 inches long. The panicle is fre-
quently 4 or 5 inches long, oblong or pyramidal, somewhat open,
but full-flowered; the branches irregularly single or in pairs,
branched and flowering nearly to the base. The spikelets are ob-
long or lanceolate one-fourth to one-half inch long, and ten to twenty
flowered when well developed. The empty glumes are smaller than
the flowering ones, rough on the keel, acutish. The flowering glumes
are one line long, ovate, rather obtuse, and strongly three-nerved.
The palets are shorter than their glumes, narrow, the sides reflexed
and the margin ciliate. This grass is said to have a disagreeable
odor when fresh. It produces an abundance of foliage and is ap-
parently an annual, reaching maturity late in the season. We are
not aware that its agricultural value has been tested.

13. E. minor, Most. (E. powoides, Beauv.) With the preceding,
also introduced.
14. E. oxylepis, Zorr. (E. interrupta, Vudt.) Texas and New
Mexico.
15. E. pectinacea, Gray. Massachusetts to Kansas and Texas.
E. pectinacea, var. refracta, Chap. Florida to North Carolina.
E. pectinacea, var. spectabilis, G7. Massachusetts, southward
and westward.

73

16. E. pilifera, Scheele. Texas to Arizona.
17. E. pilosa, Zinn. Introduced.
18. E. Purshii, Schrad. New England to Arizona.
Very widely diffused over the United States, extending into
Mexico. It is of no agricultural value.
19. E. reptans, Vees. New England to Texas.
20. E. tennis, Gray. New England to Texas.

Merica, Zinn.

Panicle narrow and strict, or lax and spreading, or racemose and
secund ; spikelets two to many flowered, the flowers usually convo-
lute around each other, the upper one to three smaller and imper-
fect ; outer glumes membranaceous or hyaline, acute or obtuse,
awnless, the lower three to five nerved, the upper sometimes seven
to nine nerved, the lateral nerves vanishing within the scarious mar-
gin. Flowers somewhat distant; flowering glumes of thicker tex-
ture, becoming somewhat coriaceous, rounded or flattish on the back,
five to nine nerved, the lateral nerves vanishing below the apex, the
central one sometimes ending in a point or an awn; palets shorter
than their glumes, two-keeled, ciliate on the keels and apex.

1. M. acuminata, Bolander. California and Oregon.
2. M. aristata, Thurber. California and Oregon.
3. M. bromoides, Gray. California and Oregon.
M. bromoides, var. Howellii, Seri. California and Oregon.
4, M. bulbosa, Geyer. California, Nevada, to Montana and
Oregon.
5. M. Californica, Scrib. (M. poeoides, Zorr.) California.
6. M. diffusa, Pursh. Texas to Arizona.
M. diffusa, var. nitens, Seri. Texas to Arizona.
7. M. frutesceus, Ser7>. Southern California and Arizona.
8. M. fugax, Bol. California and Oregon.
9. M. Harfordii, Bol. California and Oregon.
10. M. imperfecta, Zrin. California and Oregon.
M. imperfecta, var. flexuosa, Bol. California.
M. imperfecta, var. minor, Scr7d. California.
M. imperfecta, var. refracta, Zhurb. California.
11. M. mutica, Walt. (M. glabra, Jfichz.) Melic grass. Eastern

and Atlantic States.

A perennial grass, growing sparingly in rich, rocky woods through-

74

out most of the States east of the Rocky Mountains. It grows in
loose tufts, the culms about 2 feet high, the lower leaves and sheaths
soft hairy, the upper leaves narrow, 3 to 4 inches long, gradually
pointed. The panicle is very simple or little branched; the
spikelets are loosely arranged on the branches, almost sessile, and
rather on one side of the branches. They are large and grace-
ful in appearance, each one consisting of two perfect flowers and a
small chaffy knob, called a rudiment. The onter glumes are thin,
scarious-margined, five to seven nerved, purplish, and three to four
lines long. The flowering glumes are thicker, strongly ribbed, sca-
rious at the blunt apex, and minutely rough on the nerves. The
two flowers are somewhat distant from each other. The palets are
narrower and shorter than the flowering glumes, arched and ciliate
on the keels. This grass is eaten and relished by cattle, but is prob-
ably not well adapted to cultivation. :
12. M. Porteri, Sertb. (M. mutica, var. parviflora, Porter.) Colo-
rado to Arizona.
13. M. spectabile, Scribd. California, Oregon, Montana.
14. M. stricta, Bol. California, Oregon, Montana.

It will be observed that the larger portion of the species of this
genus belong on the Pacific side of the continent. They are mostly
perennial and furnish a large quantity of foliage, but we are not in-
formed as to their eceonomic value. Experiments should be insti-
tuted to ascertain this point.

Diarruena, af.

Panicle narrow and loose; spikelets three to five flowered, the one
or two uppermost imperfect; outer glumes unequal, shorter than
the flowers, coriaceous, the lower narrow, acute, keeled, one-nerved,
the upper larger, ovate, five-nerved, keeled, acute, or mucronate ;
flowering glumes broadly ovate, rigidly coriaceous, rounded on the
back, three-nerved, the nerves prominent and uniting at the apex in
a strong cuspidate or awl-shaped tip; palets shorter than their
glumes, rigid, broad, two-keeled. Stamens 2. Grain very large,
rather longer than the flower, oblong, obtusely pointed.

1. D. Americana, Beauv. Ohio, Illinois, and southward.

Srreprogyne, Beauv.

Spikelets one to four flowered, cylindrical, shortly pedicellate, in

75

unilateral subsessile spikes, the lower flowers perfect ; outer glumes
unequal, the outer one small, the upper longer, wider, convolute,
many nerved, acute; flowering glumes longer, more rigid, closely
convolute, terminated in a straight, slender awn, upper flowers grad-
ually smaller and empty; palet narrow, membranaceous, two-keeled,
bifid, closely inclosed in its glume.

1. S. crinita, Beauv. This is credited to the Southern United States

by Grisebach, but we have not seen it.

Prevropvogon, /. Br.

Spikelets in a long, simple raceme, many-flowered, long, com-
pressed; the rhachis smooth, zigzag, disarticulating under each
flower at maturity ; outer glumes shorter than the lowest flowers,
unequal, membranaceous, the lower one-nerved, the upper thrce-
nerved, awnless; flowering glumes much longer, narrow, herba-
ceous to subcoriaceous, with a smooth rounded callus at the base,
prominently seven-nerved, truncate or bifid at the apex, the mid-
nerve terminating in a straight awn; palet nearly as long as its
glume, strongly two-nerved, two-keeled.

1. P. Californicum, Benth. (Lophochlena Californica, Gr.) Cali-
fornia.

2. P. refractum, Benth. (Lophochlena refracta, Gr.) California
and Oregon.

3. P. Sabinii, Brown. Melville Island, Arctic America.

Untora, Linn.

Spikelets closely many-flowered, very flat and two-edged, one or
more of the lowest flowers neutral and consisting only of an empty
glume; glumes lanceolate, complicate-keeled, rigid or coriaceous,
the flowering ones larger, many-nerved, usually acute or pointed,
entire; palet rigid, two-keeled, the keels narrowly winged. Sta-
mens 1 to 3.

1. U. gracilis, Michz, Common.
9. U. latifolia, Iichx. Common.

This a handsome grass, growing 2 to 3 feet high, with very broad
leaves and a spreading panicle; the drooping spikelets larger than
those of any other grass we have, being an inch long or more, and
nearly half as wide, consisting of ten to twelve flowers. It grows

76

from Pennsylvania and Illinois southward. Mr. Charles Mohr,
Mobile, Ala., says of this grass:

A fine vernal grass, with a rich foliage, blooming early in May; 2 to 3 feet high;
frequent in damp, sandy loam, forming large tufts. This perennial grass is cer-
tainly valuable, affording an abundant range early in the season; if cultivated it
would yield large crops ready for cutting from the Ist of May. It is called by some
wild fescue or oat grass. It is not found near the coast, consequently I had no
chance to observe its growth during the latter part of the summer and in the winter
season, and therefore am not able to judge of its value as a pasture grass.

3. U. nitida, Bald. Georgia to Texas.

4. U. paniculata, Zinn. Sea Oats, near the coast, Virginia to
Florida.

A tall, coarse grass, with a dense heavy panicle. In Florida and
on the Gulf coast it sometimes grows from 10 to 12 feet high, and
is called Sea-oats.

Disricuuis, Raf.

Spikelets dicecious, many-flowered, compressed, crowded in a dense
spicate or capitate, or rather open panicle ; outer glumes herbaceous,
narrow, keeled, acute, shorter than the flowers; flowering glumes
rigidly membranaceous or subcoriaceous, keeled, many-nerved, acute ;
palet complicate, two-keeled, the keels narrowly winged. The pis-
tillate flowers are more rigid than the staminate, styles long with
stigmas exserted from the top of the palet.

1. D. maritima af (Brizopyrum spicatum, Hook.). Sea-shore and
interior saline grounds. Salt grass. Alkaline grass.

This is described in most botanical works as Brizopyrum spica-
tum, but recently the name given by Rafinesque has been accepted
and restored to it by Mr. Bentham. It isa perennial grass, growing
in marshes near the sea-coast on both sides of the continent, and also
abundantly in alkaline soil throughout the arid districts of the Rocky
Mountains. It has strong, creeping root-stocks, covered with imbri-
cated leaf-sheath, sending up culms from 6 to 18 inches high, which
are clothed nearly to the top with the numerous, sometimes crowded,
two-ranked leaves. The leaves are generally rigid and involute,
sharp-pointed, varying greatly in length on different specimens. The
plants are dicecious, some being entirely male and some female. The
panicle is generally short and spike-like, sometimes, especially in the
males, rather loose, with longer, erect branches, and sometimes re-
duced to a few spikelets. The spikelets are from four to six lines

77

long and five to ten flowered, the flowers being usually much com-
pressed. The outer glumes are smooth, narrow, and keeled; the
flowering ones are broader, keeled, acute, rather rigid, and faintly
many-nerved. The palets have an infolded margin, the keels prom-
inent or narrowly winged. The pistillate spikelets are more con-
densed and more rigid than the staminate. Although this cannot
be considered a first-rate grass for agricultural purposes, it is freely
cut with other marsh grasses, and on the alkaline plains of the Rocky
Mountains it affords an inferior pasturage.

Dacryuis, Linn.

Spikelets three to five flowered, in dense fascicles or glomerate
clusters at the ends of the short branches of a elose, short panicle.
Outer glumes unequal, lanceolate, acute, rigid, with hyaline margins,
‘keeled, one to three nerved ; flowering glumes larger, more rigid,
keeled, five-nerved, mucronate or bristle-pointed, ciliate on the keel ;.
palet little shorter than its glume, narrower and thinner, two-keeled.

1. D. glomerata, Zinn. Orchard grass. Cultivated.

This is one of the most popular meadow grasses of Europe, und is.
well known to most farmers in the Northern and Eastern States. It
is a perennial, of strong, rank growth, about 3 feet high, the culm
and leaves roughish, the leaves broadly linear, light green, and five
to six on the culm. The panicle is generally but 2 or 3 inches long,
the upper part dense from the shortness of the branches; the lower
branches are longer and spreading, but with the spikelets glomerated
or closely tufted. The spikelets are usually three to four flowered,
one-sided, and on short, rough pedicels. The glumes are pointed
and somewhat unequal, the upper one being smaller and thinner
than the lower. The flowering glumes are ovate-lanceolate, rough-.
ish, and ending in a sharp point or short awn, and are rather longer
than the outer glumes.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says:

Of all grasses this is one of the most widely diffused, growing in Africa, Asia,
every country of Europe, and all our States. It is more highly esteemed and com-
mended than any other grass by a larger number of farmers in most countries, a
most decided proof of its great value and wonderful adaptation to many soils,
climates, and treatments. Yet, strange to say, though growing in England for many
centuries, it was not appreciated in that country till carried there from Virginia in
1764. But, as in the case of timothy grass, soon after its introduction from America,
it came into high favor among farmers, and still retains.its hold on their estimation.

78

as a grazing and hay crop. It will grow well on any soil containing sufficient clay
and not holding too much water. If the land be too tenacious, drainage will remedy
the soil; if worn out, a top dressing of stable manure will give ita good send-off,
and it will furnish several mowings the first year. It grows well between 29° and
48° latitude. It may be mowed from two to four times a year, according to latitude,
season and treatment, yielding from 1 to 3 tons of excellent hay per acre on poor
to medium land. It is easily cured and handled. It is readily seeded and
catches with certainty. It grows well in open lands and in forests of large
trees, the underbrush being all cleared off. I know but one objection to it.
Like tall oat grass it is disposed to grow in clumps and leave much of
the ground uncovered. This may be obviated by. thick, seeding, using 25, or,
better, 3 bushels of seed per acre. The gaps may be prevented by sowing
with it a few pounds of red-top seed. But as the latter multiplies annually
from seeds dropping, it would in a few years root out the orchard grass. In com-
mon with others I perfer red clover with orchard grass. It fills the gaps and ma-
tures at the same time with the orchard grass; the mixture makes good pasture and
good hay; but if mowed more than twice a year, or grazed too soon after the second
mowing, the clover will rapidly fail. One peck of red clover seed and six pecks of
orchard grass seed is a good proportion peracre. * * * After being cut it has
been found to grow four inches in less than three days. Sheep leave all other grasses
if they can find this, and acre for acre it will sustain twice as many sheep or other
stock as timothy. Cut at the proper stage it makes a much better hay than timothy,
and is greatly preferred by animals, being easier to masticate, digest, and assimilate ;
in fact, more like green grass in flavor, tenderness, and solubility.

Mr. J. 8. Gould, of New York, says:

The testimony that has been collected from all parts of the world for two centu-
ries past establishes the place of this species among the very best of our forage
grasses, and we have not the shadow of a doubt that the interests of our graziers
and dairymen would be greatly promoted by its more extended cultivation. It is
always found in the rich old pastures of England, where an acre of land can be re-
lied on to fatten a bullock and four sheep. It is admirably adapted for growing in
the shade, no grass being equal to it in this respect, except the rough-stalked
meadow grass (Poa trivialis.) It receives the name of orchard grass from this cir-
cumstance. We have seen it growing in great luxuriance in dense old New England
orchards, where no other grass except Poa trivialis would grow at all. It affords a
good bite earlier in the spring than any other grass except the meadow fox-tail
(Alopecurus pratensis.) It affords a very great amouut of aftermath, being exceeded
in this respect by no other grass, except Kentucky blue grass, (Poa pratensis,) and
it continues to send out root leaves until very late in the autumn. When sown with
other grasses its tendency to form tussocks is very much diminished ; indeed, it is
always unprofitable to sow it alone in meadows or pastures, as it stands too thin
upon the ground to make a profitable use of the land, and the filling up of the in-
terspaces with other varieties greatly improves the quality of the orchard grass by
restraining its rankness and making it more delicate.

Briza, Linn.

Spikelets many-flowered, paniculate, ovate or roundish, flattish-
tumid. Outer glumes unequal, persistent, three to five nerved, sca-

79

rious margined, concave or ventricose; flowering glumes imbricated,
appressed or spreading, broad or roundish, ventricose, often heart-
shaped at the base, five to many nerved; palet much shorter than
its glume, hyaline, on the margin two-nerved.

1. B. media, Zinn. Naturalized in some places. Quaking grass.
2. B. minor, Zinn. Naturalized in some places. Quaking grass.

These are small grasses often used for ornamental purposes.
Poa, Linn.

Spikelets somewhat compressed, usually two to five flowered, in a
narrow or loose and spreading panicle, the rhachis between the
flowers glabrous or sometimes hairy, the flowers generally perfect,
in a few species dicecious ; outer glumes commonly shorter than the
flowers, membranaceous, keeled, obtuse or acute, one to three nerved,
not awned ; flowering glumes membranaceous, obtuse or acute, five
or rarely seven nerved, the intermediate nerves frequently obscure,
often scarious at the apex and margius, smooth or pubescent, often
with a few loose or webby hairs at the base; palet about as long as
the flowering glumes, prominently two-nerved or two-keeled.

1. P. abbreviata, 2. Br. Oregon to the Arctic coast.

2. P. alpina, Zinn. Mountains of New England and Rocky Moun-
tains.
P. alpina, var. minor. Rocky Mountains.
P. alpina, var. purpurascens, Vasey. (Poa purpurascens, Vasey.)
Oregon and Rocky Mountains.
3. P. alsodes, Gr. New York, New England, and Alleghany
Mountains.
P. alsodes, var. Wolfii, Vasey. Illinois.
4. P. andina, Vutt. Rocky Mountain region.
5. P. annua, Linn. Introduced.
6. P. arachnifera, Zorr. Texas Blue grass. Texas to New
Mexico.
P. arachnuifera, var. glabrata, Vasey. Texas Blue grass. Texas

to New Mexico.

This species was first described by Dr. John Torrey in the report
-of Captain Marcy’s exploration of the Red River, of Louisiana, as
having been found on the headwaters of the Trinity, and named
Poa arachnifera from the profuse webby hairs growing about the
flowers, although it is found that this character is very variable,

80

probably depending somewhat on the amount of shade or exposure
to which the grass is subject.

Several years ago Mr. Hogan, of Texas, sent specimens of the
grass to this Department, and, as it was shown to be a relative of
the Kentucky blue grass, Mr. Hogan adopted for the common name
Texas blue grass. We give some extracts from his letters relating
to the grass:

I find it is spreading rapidly over the country, and I claim for it all and more in
Texas than is awarded to the Poa pratensis in Kentucky. It seems to be indigenous
to all the prairie country between the Trinity River and the Brazos in our State. It
blooms here about the last of March, and ripens its seeds by the 15th of April. Stock
of all kinds, and even poultry, seem to prefer it to wheat, rye, or anything else grown
in winter. It seems to have all the characteristics of Poa pratensis, only it is much
larger, and therefore affords more grazing. I have known it to grow ten inches in
ten days during the winter. The coldest winters do not even nip it, and although it
seems to die down during summer it springs up as soon as the first rains fall in Sep-
tember and grows all winter. I have known it in cultivation some five years, and
have never been able to find a fault in it. It will be ready for pasture in three or
four weeks after the first rains in the latter part of August or first of September. I
have never cut it for hay. Why should a man want hay when he can have green
grass to feed his stock on?

Mr. James E. Webb, of Greensborough, Hale county, Alabama,
writes to the Department December 26, 1883, and says:

Recent experiments show that the Texas blue grass (Poa arachnifera) flourishes.
and grows here in west Alabama as finely as could be wished, and is likely ere long
to furnish us what we so much need—a fine winter grass. With Texas blue grass,
Melilotus, and Bermuda grass, Alabama is a fine stock country.

Mr. 8. C. Tally, of Ellis county, Texas, has sent specimens of this
grass ; he says it is abundant there, bears heavy pasturing, and makes
a veantiful yard or lawn grass.

Similar favorable accounts have been received from others. It is
likely to prove one of the most valuable grasses for the South and
Southwest. By means of its strong stolons or offshoots it multiplies
rapidly and makes a dense permanent sod. It produces an abund-
ance of radical leaves, and those of the culm are long, smooth, and
of good width, about 4 to 8 inches long and two lines wide. The
culms are 2 to 3 feet high, each with two or three leaves, with long
sheaths and blade, the upper leaf sometimes reaching nearly to the top
of the panicle. The ligule is short and rounded, or lacerated when old.
The panicle is from 3 to 8 inches in length, rather narrow, and with
short, erect branches of unequal length, in clusters of from three to
five, the longest seldom 2 inches, most of them short, some nearly

81

sessile, and profusely flowering to the base. The spikelets usually
contain about five flowers. The outer glumes are ovate-lanceolate,
acute, with whitish scarious margins, and scabrous on the keel. The
flowering glumes are longer, gradually sharp-pointed, and smooth,
except on the margins and midnerve, which are usually pubescent,
sometimes densely so. In many cases there is a remarkable devel-
opment of long, silky hairs at the base of each flower, but some-
times these are quite absent.

7. P. Bigelovii, Vasey and Scribner, (P. annua, var. stricta, Vasey.)
Texas to Arizona.
8. P. Bolanderi, Vasey. California.
9. P. brevifolia, duhl. Pennsylvania and Virginia, sparingly west-
ward.
P. cesia, Su. Maine to Oregon, and Rocky Mountains.
P. cesia, var. stricta, Gr. Maine to Rocky Mountains.
P. Californica, Vasey. (Atropis Californica, Zhurb.) Califor-
nia, Oregon, Utah, &c.
12. P. cenisia, A//. (P.arctica, R. Br.) Rocky Mountains to Alaska.
13. P. compressa, Zinn. Introduced. English Blue grass, Wire
grass.

10.

11.

This species has sometimes been confounded with the Kentucky
blue grass, from which it differs in its flattened, decumbent, wiry
stems, its shorter leaves and shorter, narrower, and more scanty
panicle. It is found in many old pastures, on dry banks, and in
open woods. The culms are hard and much flattened, 1 foot to 18
inches long, more or less decumbent, and frequently bent at the
lower joints. The leaves are scanty, smooth, short, and of a dark
bluish-green color. The panicle is short and contracted, 1 to 3
inches long. Very contradictory accounts have been given as to its
agricultural value, some denouncing it as worthless and others en-
tertaining a good opinion of it. It thrives well on clay, or hard
trodden and poor soils.

Hon. J. 8. Gould says respecting it:

It is certain that cows that feed upon it both in pasture and in hay give more

milk and keep in better condition than when fed on any other grass. Horses fed
on this hay will do as well as when fed on timothy hay and oats combined.

These discrepant opinions may be due in part to having mistaken
the Poa pratensis for this grass. It is probably a nutritious grass,
6

§2

but from its spare yield can hardly obtain mnch favor for a hay

crop.

14. P. debilis, Zorr. Lower Canada, New England, New York to
Wisconsin.

15. P. Douglasii, Vees. California.
16. P. Eatoni, S. W. Utah, Nevada, and Montana.
17. P. flavicans, Zedb. Alaska.
18. P. flexuosa, J/uAl. Pennsylvania to Texas.
P. flexuosa,? var. occidentale. Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.
19. P. glumaris, Zrin. Alaska to Lower Canada.
20. P. gracillima, Vasey. Oregon and Washington Territory.
21. P. Howellii, Vasey and Seribner. (P. trivialis, var., Vasey.)
Oregon.
22. P. Kelloggii, Vasey. (4705, Bolander.) California.
23. P. Kingii, 8. W. Utah and Nevada.
24. P. levis, Vusey. (P. tennifolia, var. levis, Vasey.) Colorado
to Montana.
25. P: laxa, Henke. New England to Rocky Mountains.
26. P.leptocoma, Zrin. Alaska.
27. P. nemoralis, Zivn. Rocky Mountains and New England.
28. P. Nutkeensis, Prest. Alaska.
29. P. Nevadensis, Vasey. Utah, Nevada, Montana to Oregon.
P. Nevadensis, var. glauca, Scribner. Montana’to Oregon.
30, P. occidentalis, Vasey and Scribner. Oregon.
31. P. pauciflora. (Atropis panciflora, Zhurb.) California.
32. P. pratensis, Zinn. June grass, Kentucky Blue grass, Spear

grass. Introduced and cultivated, but undoubtedly indig-
enous in the Rocky Mountains.

This grass is too well known to need an extended description. It
is a perennial, growing usually 14 to 2 feet high, with an abundance
of long, soft, radical leaves. There are several well-marked varie-
ties, which are much modified and improved by good cultivation.
It is indigenous in the mountainons regions of this country as well
as of Europe, and has been introduced into cultivation in many
countries. The panicle is generally pyramidal in outline, 2 to +
inches long, open and spreading, the branches fine, mostly in fives,
the lower ones 1 to 2 inches long, subdivided and flowering above
the middle. The spikelets are about two lines long, ovate, closely
three to five flowered, mostly on very short pedicels. The outer

83

glumes are acute; the flowering glumes acute or acutish, five-nerved,
the lateral nerves prominent, the lower part of the keel and marginal
nerves more or less hairy, and at the base more or less webby-hairy.
From the unexampled success its cultivation has met with in Ken-
tucky it has acquired the name of Kentucky blue grass, although in
New England-it is known by the name of June grass. In all the
middle portions of the United States it forms the principal constit-
uent of pastures, though its excellence is said tou be rather depreci-
ated in the Eastern States.
Professor Killebrew, of Tennessee, says:

It would seem a work of supererogation to argue as to the advantages of cultivat-
ing this grass. All know its benefits, and all see around them the great increase in
the value of the land covered by it. It grows readily in all parts of the United
States north of 40°, and lower down on suitable soils. It flowers in the earliest sum-

mer, and gives rich pasturage, except in the driest months, all the year. It varies
in size in different localities according to soil and climate.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says :

é

Kentucky blue grass, known also in the Eastern States as June grass, although
esteemed in some parts of America as the best of all pasture grasses, seems not to be
considered very valuable among English farmers except in mixtures. It is certainly
a very desirable grass, however. Its very narrow leaves, 1, 2, or more feet long, are
in such profusion and cover the ground to such depth with their luxuriant growth
that a mere description could give no one an adequate idea of its beauty, quantity,
or value; that is, on rich land. On poor, sandy land it degenerates sadly, as do
other things uncongenially located. Perennial, and bearing cold and drought well,
it furnishes grazing a large part of the year. It is specially valuable as a winter and
spring grass for the South. In prolonged summer drought it dries completely, so
that if fired it would burn off clean, But this occurs even in Kentucky, where, in-
deed, it has seemed, without fire, to disappear utterly; yet when rain came, the
bright green spears promptly recarpeted the earth. Sown alone, 20 to 26 pounds,
that is 2 bushels, should be used to the acre; in mixtures, 4 to 6 pounds.

Mr. Klippart, of Ohio, says that this grass is very much in favor
in Southern Ohio, whilst in Northern and Northeastern Ohio it is
considered a very unwelcome guest in the grass lands. This differ-
ence of estimation is probably due to varieties, or to alteration of
soil and to treatment.

33. P. Pringlii, Scrib. California.

34. P. pulchella, Vasey. Oregon and Washington Territory.

35. P. reflexa, Vasey and Scribner. (P. arctica, Authors.) Rocky
Mountains.

36. P. serotina, Ehrh. Fowl Meadow grass. New England to
Wisconsin.

84

Culms erect, 2 to 3 feet high, without running root-stocks. The
leaves are narrowly linear, 3 to 6 inches long and two to three lines
wide, the sheaths long, smooth, and striate, the ligules long. The
panicle varies with the size of the plant from 5 to 10 or 12 inches
long and 1 to 3 inches wide, and lax; the branches mostly in fives
or more numerous, nearly erect, from 1 to 4 inches long, the longer
ones subdivided and flowering above the middle. There are some
mountain forms or varieties in which the culms are 1 foot or less in
height and the panicle greatly reduced. The spikelets are one to
two lines long, two to five flowered, on short pedicels. The outer
glumes are about one line long and sharp-pointed. The flowering
glumes are rather obtuse, the lateral nerves not prominent, slightly
pubescent on the margins below, and somewhat webby at the base.

This species is most common in the Northern States, particularly
in New England, New York, and westward to Wisconsin, and also
in reduced forms in all mountainous districts.

Mr. J. 8. Gould, of New York, says:

I have found it to grow on almost every kind of soil; but it attains the greatest
perfection in a rich moist one. It is one of those grasses that thrive best when
combined with others; it will not make a superior turf of itself, but it adds much
to the value of a sward from its nutritive qualities and powers of early and late
growth. As it perfects an abundance of seed it may be easily propagated.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says:

. In portions of the Western States this grass has, for some years, been very highly
recommended. In the Eastern States it has been cultivated for one hundred and
fifty years or longer and valued highly. Jared Elliott, in 1749, spoke of it as grow-
ing tall and thick, making a more soft and pliable hay than timothy and better
adapted for pressing and shipping for use of horses on shipboard. He says it
makes a thick, abundant growth on land more moist than is adapted to common
upland grasses, and may be mowed any time from June to October, as it never be-
comes so coarse and hard but the stalk is sweet and tender and eaten without waste.
It has not been sufficiently cultivated in the Southern States, so far as I am aware, to
know how long a meadow set with it may remain profitable. ' It is, however, worthy
of extended trial.

Mr. Charles L. Flint says:

It grows abundantly in almost every part of New England, especially where it has
been introduced and cultivated in suitable ground, such as the borders of rivers and
intervals occasionally flooded. It never grows so coarse or hard but that the stalk
is sweet and tender, and eaten without waste. It is easily made into hay, and is a
nutritive and valuable grass.

37. P. scabrella. (Atropis scabrella, Z’urd.) California.
38. P. stenantha, Zrin. Oregon to Alaska.

85

39. P. sylvestris, Gray. New York to Wisconsin, and southward.
40. P. tenuifolia, Wut. Rocky Mountains to California.
P. tenuifolia, var. Oregona, Vasey. (Festuca Oregona, Vasey.)
Oregon and Washington.
P. tenuifolia, var. stenophylla, Vasey. California, Oregon to
Montana.

This species in several varieties is common in California, Oregon,
Montana, &¢., and is one of the numerous bunch grasses referred
to in the accounts of the wild pasturage of that country. The
foliage of some forms is scanty, but of others the radical leaves are
long and abundant. It is stated that the Indians gather the seeds
of this grass for food.

41. P. trivialis, Zinn. Rough stalked Meadow grass. Introduced.

This species very much resembles the va pratensis. It is dis-
tinguished chiefly by its having rough sheaths, by its long, pointed
ligules, its fibrous roots, and the smooth marginal nerves of the
flowering glumes; whereas, in Poa pratensis, the sheaths are
smooth, the ligules obtuse, the root-stock running, and the mar-
ginal nerves of the flowering glumes are hairy. It has been little
cultivated by itself in this country, but is sometimes found in low
meadows or on the banks of shaded streams. It flourishes best in
low or wet ground and in shaded situations, and is not so well
adapted to general cultivation as the blue grass.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says :

It is specially adapted to wood pastures, as it delights in shade, banks of streams,
and moist ground generally. It bears tramping, and is an excellent pasture grass.
It makes a good mixture with red top and orchard grass, or red top and tall oat
grass, and with other pasture grasses.

P. trivialis? var. occidentalis, Visey.

This grass, apparently a variety of P. ¢rivialis, appears to be in-
digenous in Colorado and New Mexico. It has a larger, looser pan-
icle than the introduced plant.

42. P. Wheeleri, Vasey. Mountains of Colorado.

Prof. Scribner, in writing of the Poas of Montana, says:

All the Poas, wherever growing in abundance. yield most excellent food for stock.
On the mountain tops we find P. alpina and P. cesia, which, though short, are
sweet and nutritious. P. Nevadensis is common along mountain streams, and on the
slopes we find P. memoralis and P. serotina. P. pratensis is truly indigenous, and
grows abundantly along the streams and rivers. P. tenuifolia, in its various forms,

86

may be called the grass of the country ; it constitutes the chief forage upon the dryest
bench lands, where it is called dunch grass, or, on account of its reddish color, red
top. Another local name is red-topped Buffalo grass. In dry situations the culms
are low and slender, and the foliage short and scant, but when growing in rich soil
along streams it makes a luxuriant growth of stems and foliage, 2 to 3 feet high, and
a field of it in bloom presents as fine an appearance as does a field of Kentucky blue
grass, and the produce per acre is nearly the same. This grass and Ae@leria cris-
tata are usually associated, and both bloom about the same time—from the 15th to
the 30th June. As fine a field of natural grasses as I saw in Montana contained
Poa tenuifolia, Keleria cristata, Stipa viridula, and Stipa comata as the leading
species, the Poa being the most abundant.

Guyceria, 72. Br.

Spikelets terete or flattish, several to many flowered, in a narrow
or diffuse panicle, the rhachis smooth and readily disarticulating be-
tween the flowers; outer glumes shorter than the flowers, unequal,
membranaceous, one to three nerved, unawned; flowering glumes
membranaceous to subcoriaceous, obtuse, awnless, more or less hya
line and denticulate’at the apex, rounded (never keeled) on the back,
five to nine nerved, the nerves separate and all vanishing before
reaching the apex; palet about as long as its glume, two-keeled, en-
tire or bifid at the apex.

The species of this genus are not of much agricultural importance.
They mostly grow in wet or swampy ground, and where found in
abundance can be utilized for pasturage or hay-making.

1. G. acutiflora, Zorr. Maine to Tennessee.

2. G. angustata, Hries. Alaska, Arctic coast, and Hudson’s Bay.

3. G. arundinacea, Ath. (G. aquatica of American authors.) Tall
Meadow grass. Reed Meadow grass.

This species is widely diffused’ in the northern portions of the
United States and Canada, and in the Rocky Mountains from New
Mexico to Montana. It has a stout, erect, leafy culm, 3 to 4 feet
high. The leaves are a foot or two long, a quarter to half an inch
wide, flat, and somewhat rough on the edges. The panicle is large,
9 to 15 inches long, and much branched.

4. G. Canadensis, 7rin. Rattlesnake grass. Tall Quaking grass.
Maine to Minnesota, and south to Pennsylvania.

A grass belonging to the northern portion of the United States,
usually found in mountainous districts, in swamps, and river bor-
ders, growing in clumps. The culms are stout, about 3 feet high,
smooth and leafy. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, 6 to 9 inches

87

long, or the lower ones much longer, about four lines broad and
rather rigid. The panicle is large and effuse, 6 to 9 inches long,
oblong pyramidal, and at length drooping. The whorls are an inch
or more distant, the branches semi-verticillate, mostly in threes, the
largest 3 to 4 inches long, and subdivided from near the base. It
is quite an ornamental grass, resembling the quaking grass (Briza.)
Cattle are fond of it, both green and when made into hay. It is
well adapted to low meadows.

4. G. conferta, Fries. (G. Borreri, Bab.) Introduced on ballast.
5. G. distans, Wahl. Introduced and naturalized.
G. distans, var. airoides. (G. airoides, Zhurb.) Rocky Moun-
tain region.
6. G. elongata, Zrin. New England to Minnesota.
7. G. fluitans, 2. Br. Floating Manna grass. Atlantic to the

Pacific.

This species grows in shallow water on the margins of lakes, ponds,
and sluggish streams. Its culms are usually 3 to 4 feet high, rather
thick and succulent and quite leafy. The leaves are 4 to 9 inches
long and three to four lines wide. The panicle is often a foot long,
very narrow, the short distant branches mostly in twos or threes, 1
or 2 inches long, erect and close, each having usually two to four
spikelets. The spikelets are half an inch to three-quarters of an
inch in length, rather cylindrical and nearly of the same thickness
throughout, seven ,to thirteen flowered. The outer glumes are mem-
branaceous and one-nerved. The flowering glumes are about two
lines long, oblong, convex on the roughish back, rather thick, with a
thin, scarious entire apex. The palets are as long or sometimes
longer than their glumes and minutely two-toothed.

Hon. J. 8. Gonld says: ;

This grass is found growing in shallow water, overflowed meadows and wet woods,
but will bear cultivation on moderately dry grounds. Schreber says that it is culti-
vated in several parts of Germany for the sake of the seeds, which form the manna
crop of the shops, and are considered a great delicacy in soups and gruels. When
ground into meal they make bread very little inferior to that made from wheat. In
Poland large quantities of the seeds are obtained for culinary purposes. All gran-
iverous birds are exceedingly fond of these seeds. Trout and indeed most fish are
very fond of them ; wherever it grows over the banks of streams the trout are al-
ways found in great numbers waiting to catch every seed that falls. There is a great
difference of opinion among agricultural writers with respect to the fondness of
animals for the leaves and culms of this grass. We have oftenseen the ends of the
leaves cropped by cattle, but have never seen the culms or root-leaves touched by

88

them: Onthe other hand, reliable writers have asserted that cattle, horses; and
swine were alike fond of it.

8. G. Lemmoni, Vasey. Alkaline soils, California and Nevada.

9. G. maritima, Wahl. Near the coast. Introduced.

10. G: nervata, Zrin. Nerved meadow grass. From the At-
lantic to the Pacific.

This is similar in appearance to the Zall Meadow grass, but is
smaller, with a lighter panicle and smaller flowers. It has also much
the same general range. It usually grows along the wet margins of
streams andinswamps. It is nutritious and might be advantageously
mixed with other grasses in wet grounds. It is especially abund-
ant in the Rocky Mountains.

11. G. obtusa, Zrin. New England to North Carolina near the
coast.

12. G. pallida, Z>in. Maine to Virginia, margins of ponds, &e.

13. G. pauciflora, Pres’. California to British America.

Arctopuiia, upt.

This genus differs from (/yceria chiefly in having at the base of
each flower a scanty ring of short hairs, and in the obscure lateral
nerves of the flowering glume. It is included in Glyceria by some
authors, and in Graphephorum by Dr. Gray.

1. A. fulva, /upt. (Colpodium fulvum, Zed.) Arctic coast.
2. A. Laestadii, upt. (A. pendulina, And.) Arctic coast to British
America.
8. A. mucronata, Hack. Arctic coast.
Fromista, Pies.

Spikelets about five flowered, outer glumes membranaceons, three-
nerved, acute, or toothed at the apex, the upper one longer than the
lowest flower, and nearly as long as the spikelet, the lower one one-
third shorter; flowering glumes much thicker than the outer ones,
smooth, tive-nerved or ribbed (when mature strongly so,) becoming
scarious at the apex, and two to five toothed or mucronate from
the excurrent nerves; palet as long as its glume, two keeled and
ciliate on the keels, acute or bifid at the tip. The base of each
flower is surrounded by a ying of short hairs. Panicle large, with
long, lax, erect, verticillate branches. Culm 2 to 3 feet thick, grow-
ing in water, and.with creeping rhizoma.

1. F. arundinacea, Fries. Iowa, British America.

89
Festuca, Zinn.

Spikelets three to many flowered, variously panicled, pedicellate,
rhachis of the spikelets not hairy ; outer glumes unequal, shorter
than the flowers, the lower one nerved, and the upper three nerved,
narrow, keeled, acute; flowering glumes membranaceous, charta-
ceous, or sub-coriaceous, narrow, rounded on the back (not keeled,)
more or less distinctly three to five nerved, acute or tapering into a
straight awn, rarely obtusish; palet narrow, flat, prominently two-
nerved or two keeled.

1. -F. amethystina, Zinn. California and Oregon.

2. F. confinis, Vasey. Rocky Mountains, Wyoming, and Colorado.
3. F. dasyclada, Hackel. Rocky Mountains. (No. 93 Parry, 1875.)
4. F. duriuscula, Zinn. Atlantic coast to Rocky Mountains.

5. F. elatior, Zinn. (F. pratensis, Zinn.) Meadow Fescue grass.

Tall Fescue, Randall grass. Introduced and cultivated.

A parennial grass, growing from 2 to 4 feet high, with flat,
broadish leaves about a foot long. The panicle is somewhat one-
sided, loose, and spreading when in flower, contracted after flower-
ing, from 6 to 10 inches long, the branches 1 to 2 inches long, erect,
mostly in pairs below, single above, subdivided; the spikelets are
lanceolate or linear, about half an inch long, five to ten flowered.
The outer glumes are one and three nerved, shorter than the flowers ;
the flowering glumes are lanceolate, about three lines long, firm in
texture, tive-nerved, scarious at the margin, acute, and sometimes
with a short but distinct awn at the apex. This is an introduced
species, now frequently met with in meadows; it is one of the
standard meadow grasses of Europe. Cattle are said to be very
fond of it, both green and as hay. There is a smaller form or va-
riety which is the variety pratensis or Festuca pratensis, Hudson.

Professor Killebrew, of Tennessee, writes of this grass as follows :

This grass has received some attention in different parts of the State, and has
met with a warm reception from those testing it. It ripens its seed long before any
other grass, and consequently affords a very early nip to cattle. It has been raised
under various names, in Virginia as ‘‘ Randall grass,” and in North Carolina as
‘evergreen grass.” Mr. James Taylor, writing from North Carolina, says: ‘‘The
evergreen grass is very good for pasturing through the fall and winter. It will do
best when sown on dry, land, and is well adapted tosheep. It grows well on rocky
soil to the height of 4 or 5 feet when ripe, continuing green in the spring, and
affording fine herbage throughout the winter. It is best to sow in the spring

with oats. A peck of well-cleaned seed is enough for an acre, or a bushel in the
chaff. It ripens about the first of June. If sown in the spring this grass will not

90

go to seed before the next year, but if sown in the fall it will bring seed the next
spring.” From the limited cultivation it has met with in Tennessee, it seems rather
to be better adapted to moist, low lands, though I have seen it growing on some of
the high ridges cf East Tennessee, at least 1,500 feet above the sea. There it
thrives luxuriantly and makes a very superior pasture.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says :

It grows well in nearly all situations, wet or dry. on hill or bottom land, even
though subject to overflow, and matures an extraordinary quantity of seed. The
seeds germinate readily, and it is easy to set a piece of land with this grass. Seeded
alone, 28 pounds, or about 2 bushels of seed, should be sown broadcast in August,
September, October, or from the middle of February to the Ist of April. From re-
maining green through the winter it issometimes called ** evergreen grass.” Mowed
and dried it makes a good hay, much relished by stock.

6. F. gigantea, V2ld. Introduced.
7. F. gracillima, Hook. California to Washington Territory.

8. F. Jonesii, Vasey. Nevada to British America.
9. F. Howellii, Hack. Oregon.
10. F. microstachys, Vué¢. Arizona to British America.
F. microstachys, var. ciliata, Gr. California.
F. microstachys, var. divergens, Zhurb. California.
F. microstachys, var. pauciflora, Serib. Oregon.
11. F. Mynrus, Zinn. Introduced and naturalized.
12. F. nutans, Willd. New England to Texas.
13. F. occidentalis, Hook. Oregon to British America.
14. F. ovina, Zinn. Fescue grass.
F. ovina, var. Arizonica, /Zack. Arizona.
F. ovina, var. brevifolia, Watson. Rocky Mountains.

F. ovina, var. macrocheta, Hach. California.
F. ovina, var. polyphylla, Vasey. California to Oregon.

A densely-tufted, perennial grass, with au abundance of rather
narrow, sometimes involute, short radical leaves and slender culms,
1 to 14 feet high. The panicle is 2 to 4 inches long, narrow, the
branches mostly single and alternate, erect and few-flowered; the
spikelets are mostly three to five flowered, and abont three lines
long; the outer glumes are acute and narrow. The flowering glumes
are lanceolate, two lines long, roughish, and with a short rough awn
about half a line long.

This species has many varieties, both in this country and in Eu-
rope. It is indigenous in the mountainous parts of New England,
in the Rocky Mountains, and in various Northern localities.

As found in cultivation it has been derived from Europe.

91

Hon. J. Gould, of New York, says:

It forms the great bulk of the sheep pastures of the highlands of Scotland, where
it is the favorite food of the sheep, and where the shepherds believe it to be more
nutritious for their flocks than any other. Gmelin says that the Tartars choose to
encamp during the summer where this grass is most abundant, because they believe
that it affords the most wholesome food for all cattle, but especially for sheep.
Nature distributes it among dry, sandy, and rocky soils, where scarcely any other
species would grow. It is without doubt the very best of the grasses growing on.
sandy soils. It roots deeply, and forms a dense, short turf, which adapts it admira-
bly for lawns and pleasure-grounds where the soil is sandy. It is almost useless as.
a hay crop, as its leaves and culms are too fine to give a remunerative amount of
hay; itis only asa pasture grass on sandy soils that it is valuable, and in these,
when highly manured, it is driven out by the more succulent species. It is often
found 4,000 feet above the level of the sea. Its seeds weigh about 14 pounds to the
bushel.

15. F. parviflora, #72. North Carolina. A doubtful species.

16. F. Richardsonii, Hook. Alaska.

17. F. rigida, Ath. Introduced on ballast.

18. F. rubra, Zinn. Atlantic to Pacific.
F. rubra, var. fallax, Zack. Oregon and Rocky Mountains.
F. rubra, var. littoralis, Vasey. Coast of Oregon.

19. F. seabrella, Zorr. Bunch grass. Rocky Mountains to Oregon.

A perennial grass, growing in strong clumps or bunches, and hence
called “ bunch grass.” It is a native of the Rocky Mountain region,
from Colorado westward to California and Oregon. The culms are
usually 2 to 3 feet high, erect, and smooth; the radical leaves are
numerous, about half as long as the culm, generally rigid, involute,
and scabrous on the margins; the blade is prone to separate when
old, leaving an abundance of leafless sheaths at the base ; the cauline
leaves are about two, short and pointed, 2 to 4 inches long; the
sheath scabrous, the ligule short or wanting; the panicle is usually
3 to 5 inches long. In Montana it is called the Great Bunch grass,
and is one of the principal grasses of that country. It is the pre-
vailing species on the foot-hills and mountain slopes at from 6,000
to 7,000 feet altitude. ‘It is rather too hard a grass for sheep, but
there is no grass more valued on the ‘Summer ranges’ for cattle
and horses. It makes excellent hay for horses, and is cut in large
quantities for this purpose. It grows in large tussocks, making it
rather a difficult grass to mow with a machine.” It is one of the
most important grasses of Eastern Oregon and Washington.

20. F. sciurea, Vutt. Texas.
21. F. Shortii, Ati ? Vasey. Illinois, Kentucky to Missouri.

92

22. F. spectabilis, Jan. Introduced on ballast.
23. F. tenella, Willd. New England to the Pacific.
.F. tenella, var. aristulata, Zo77. Texas and westward.

Bromus, Linn.

Spikelets five to many flowered, in a dense or lax or diffuse pan-
icle, subterete or compressed, the rhachis between the flowers gla-
brous; outer glumes more or less unequal, shorter than the lowest
flower, membranaceons, acute, awnless or short mucronate, one to
nine nerved; flowering glumes membranaceous to rigid and sub-
coriaceous, rounded on the back or compressed and keeled, five to
nine nerved, acute, or awned from below the mostly two-cleft apex ;
palet rather shorter than the glumes, two-keeled, the keels rigid and
ciliate; grain adhering to the palet. .

1. B. Aleutensis, 7rin. Alaska.
. arvensis, Zinn. Introduced from Enrope.
.asper, Zinn. Introduced from Europe.
. breviaristatus, Zhurb. Rocky Mountains to Oregon.
. carinatus, Hook. California.
. ciliatus, Zinn. From the Atlantic to the Pacific.
. ciliatus, var. purgans, G7.
. ciliatus, var. minor, J/unro. Rocky Mountains.

D om oo Wo
Won

A tall, coarse species much addicted to rocky woodlands, but of
no agricultural value.

7. B. depauperatus, Presl. California.
8. B. erectus, Huds. Introduced from Europe.
9. B. Hookerianus, Zhurb. California to British America.
B. Hookerianus, var. minor, Scrid. Oregon.
10. B. Kalmii, Gray. Vermont to Montana, northward.
B. Kalmii, var. occidentalis, Vasey. Rocky Mountains.
11. B. maximus, Desf. Introduced in California and Arizona.
12. B. mollis, Zinn. Introduced from Europe.
13. B. Orcuttianus, Vasey. South California to Washington Terri-
tory.
14. B. Pumpellianus, Scvib. Rocky Mountains, Colorado to Mon-
tano.
15. B. racemosus, Zinn. Introduced from Europe.
16. B. rubens, Zinn. Introduced from Europe.
17. B. secalinus, Zinn. Chess or cheat. Introduced.

93

It is an old tradition, which some farmers still cling to, that chess
is a degenerated wheat; that the action of frost and other causes
occasion the deterioration, whereas the truth undoubtedly is that
chess seed was either in the land or in the seed sown, and being
more hardy than wheat it survived the frost and took possession of
the ground. Some years ago this grass had a temporary popularity
under the name of Willard’s Brome grass, but it was soon aban-
doned when brought into competition with better grasses.

It has a stout upright culm, 2 to 3 feet high, the panicle being
from 4 to 6 inches long, rather spreading, and the large spikelets.
somewhat drooping when ripe. Usually there are three to five
branches at each joint of the panicle; these branches are of differ-
ent lengths, from half inch to 2 inches, and each with one to. three
spikelets. The spikelets are usually from five to ten flowered; the
glumes unequal, nerved, shorter than the flowers; the flowering
glume is convex or compressed, keeled on the back, with an awn
variable in length from below the point.

In the South it would perhaps be a good winter grass, like its
relative Bromus unioloides, but it is not as vigorous a grass as that
species, and does not produce such an abundance of foliage.

18. B. segetum, Sch/. Introduced in California.

19. B. sterilis, Zinn. Introduced from Europe.

20. B. squarrosus, Zinn. Introduced from Europe.

21. B. subulatus, Zed. + Alaska.

22. B. Suksdorfii, Vasey. Oregon and Washington.

23. B. tectornm, Linn. Introduced from Europe.

24, B. unioloides, Wil/d. Schrader’s grass, Rescue grass. Texas

to Arizona.

This is one of the so-called winter grasses; that is, it makes in
the South a large share of its growth during the winter months. It
belongs to the chess or cheat family. In its early growth it spreads
and produces a large amount of leaves; early in the spring it sends
up its flower stalks, which grow about 3 feet high, with a large,
open, spreading panicle, the ends of the branchlets bearing the large
flattened spikelets, which, when mature, hang gracefully upon their
stems, giving them quite an ornamental appearance. These spike-
lets are from 1 inch to 14 inches in length, and composed of two
acute lanceolate glumes at the base, and from seven to ten flowers
arranged in two rows alternate on each side of the axis. The flow-

94

ers are lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, the flowering glume extending
into a fine point or short awn.

During several years past this grass has been sent to this Depart-
ment, chiefly from Louisiana and Texas, and has been much com-
mended. Many years since the same grass was distributed and ex-
perimented with under the name of Australian oats, or Bromus
Schraderi. It is not adapted to use in a country with severe win-
ters, and hence did not give satisfaction in all placess. Mr. C. Mohr,
of Mobile, says of it:

Only of late years found spreading in different parts of this State; makes its ap-
pearance in February, grows in tufts, its numerous leafy stems growing from 2 to 3
feet high ; it ripens the seed in May: affords in the earlier months of spring a much-
relished nutritious food, as well as a good hay.

It is said to have been introduced into Georgia by General Iver-
son, of Columbus, and by him called rescue grass. The favorable
opinion which it at first received does not seem to have been well
sustained in that State.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says :

This grass is also called Bromus Schrader’, B. Willdenovii, Ceratochloa unioloides,
and Festuca unioloides. It isan annual winter grass. It varies in the time of start-
ing growth. I have seen it ready for mowing the first of October, and furnish fre-
quent cuttings till April. Again, it may not start before January, nor be ready to
cut till February. This depends on the moisture and depression of temperature of
the fall, the seeds germinating only at a low temperature. When once started, its
growth after the successive cuttings or grazings is very rapid. It is tender, very
sweet, and stock eat it greedily. It makes also a good hay. It produces an im-

mense quantity of leaves. On loose soil some of it may be pulled up by animals
grazing it. t

Louem, Linn.

Spikelets several-flowered, solitary on each joint of the continuous
rhachis of the simple spike, placed edgewise against the rhachis, the
glume wanting on the inside, the outer empty glume nearly as long
as or longer than the spikelet ; flowering glumes rounded on the
back, not keeled; palet shorter, two-keeled.

1. L. arvense, With. Darnel. Introduced from Europe.
2. L. perenne, Linn. Rye-grass. Introduced and cultivated.

L. perenne, var. Italicum. Italian Rye grass. Introduced and

cultivated.

A perennial grass, introduced from Europe. The culms are 2 to
3 feet high, very leafy, and terminating in a loose, spike-like panicle,

95

6 inches or more in length. The spikelets are arranged alternately
on the axis, placed edgewise; that is, with one edge of the flat
spikelet applied to the main stem at short distances, so that there
may be twenty or more in the panicle. The spikelets are one-half
to three-fourths of an inch long; generally seven to eleven flowered.
The inner empty glume is generally wanting, so that, except on the
terminal spikelet, only one glume is apparent, which is half or more
than half the length of the spikelet, narrowly lanceolate, and acute.
The general appearance of the panicle is like that of couch grass
(Triticum repens.) The flowering glumes are thickish, obscurely
nerved, rather hispid, acutely pointed, or in the variety /talicum,
with a longish awn. The proper palets are similar to the flowering
glumes and of nearly equal length.

An intelligent writer, whom we have frequently quoted, says re-
specting this grass :

It occupies the same place in Great Britain that timothy does with us, and is
there esteemed on the whole higher than any other species of grass, and is called
rye grass or ray grass. Of all the varieties of Lolium perenne which are known that
called Italicum is by far the most valuable. Its spikelets are conspicuously bearded,
the flowers being all terminated by long, slender awns, which character distinguishes
it very easily from Loliwm perenne. Its name (Italian rye grass) is derived from
the fact that its native habitat is on the plains of Lombardy, where broad and ex-
tensive plains of pasture land are frequently inundated by the mountain streams

which intersect them. It is mainly adapted to irrigated meadows, and in these it is
undoubtedly superior to any other grass.

Professor Phares says:

This grass stands drought well and grows most luxuriantly in our Southern States.
If not kept grazed or mowed, however, the leaves cover the ground so deeply and
densely that an excess of rain in very hot weather in the extreme South causes it to

rot suddenly, destroying even the roots. This I have never seen or heard mentioned

by any other person, but it occurred on my own farm one season, where I was re-
serving a lot for seed.
3. L. temulentum, Zinn. Poison Darnel. Introduced.

This species is frequently found in grain tields. The seeds have
long enjoyed a reputation of being poisonous to stock, and also to
mankind, when mixed in large quantity with the wheat or rye used
in the making of bread. The question seems hardly yet decided,
but it is best to exterminate the grass as a weed and a pest.

Agropyrum, Beawy. (Triticum, in part, of authors.)

Spikelets several-flowered (three to nine or more,) compressed,

96

alternately sessile on the continuous or slightly notched rhachis of
the simple spike, and with the side against the rhachis; outer glumes
nearly equal and opposite, membranaceous or herbaceous, one to
three nerved, scarcely keeled, tapering to a point or awned; flower-
ing glumes similar to the onter ones, rounded on the back, three to
seven nerved, pointed or awned from the apex; palet nearly as long
as its glume, the two prominent nerves almost marginal, scabrous
ciliate.

1. A. caninum, 2. d&. S. (Triticum, Zinn.) Mountains of Penn-

sylvania? and Rocky Mountains.

to

. A. dasystachyum, Vasey. (Triticum dasystachyum, G7.) Shores
of the Great Lakes, British America, and Rocky Moun-
tains.

3. A. divergens, .Vees. (T. strigosum.) Rocky Mountains.

A. divergens, var. tenue, Vasey. (Triticum egilopoides.) Rocky

Mountains.

4. A. glanecum, 2. @ 5. Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. Blue

stem, Blue joint.

This species, which has been considered a variety of the next,
prevails on the Western Plains from Texas to Montana, and is well
known to stockmen. It differs from A. repens in having a stiffer,
more erect and rigid stem and leaves; the leaves often becoming
involute and stiff. It is generally of a light bluish-green color. The
spike is generally shorter, denser, and with larger spikelets.

Professor Scribner, writing of this grass in Montana, says:

It is the most highly praised of the native grasses for hay. Wherever it occupies
exclusively any large area of ground, as it does frequently in the lower districts,
especially near Fort Benton, it is cut for hay. Naturally it does not yield u great
bulk, but its quality is unsurpassed. After two or three cuttings the yield of hay
diminishes so much that it is scarcely worth the harvesting. It is then customary
to drag a short-toothed harrow over the sod, which breaks up the creeping roots or
underground stems, and each fragment then makes a new plant.

The same valuable opinion of this grass is entertained by stock-
men in Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico. It occurs nearly
everywhere, but sparsely, on the plains, and extending quite up into
the mountains. In the valleys and along streams it frequently forms
large patches and grows closer and more abundant, when it is com-
monly cut for winter use.

5. A. repens, Beauv. (Triticum repens, Zinn.) Couch grass, Quack

grass. Introduced from Europe in the older States, and

It

sqme forms apparently indigenous in the Rocky Moun-

tains.

There has been a good deal of discussion relative to this grass,
some pronouncing it one of the vilest of weeds, and others claiming
forit high nutritive qualities overweighing all the disadvantages of its
growth. Whichever party may be right, it is proper that farmers
should be acquainted with it in order to know how to treat it, and
hence our description. It forms a dense sod by means of its far-
reaching rhizomas or root-stalks, which have short joints, and root
tenaciously at every joint.

It has an abundance of foliage, and sends up a flowering culm, 2
to 8 feet high, which is terminated by a close, narrow spike of tlow-
ers from 3 to 6 inches long. This spike consists of a succession of
closely set spikelets, one at each joint of the axis, and placed flatwise
with the side against the stalk. Each spikelet contains several (three
to eight) flowers, with a pair of nearly equal and opposite three to
five nerved glumes at the base.

Hon. J. 8. Gould says:

The farmers of the United States unite in one continuous howl of erceraton
against this grass, and it seems strange, when every man’s hand is agninst it, that it
is not exterminated. Yet we could never really satisfy ourselves that its presence
in meadows and pastures was such an unmitigated curse. In lands where alternate
husbandry is practiced, it must be admitted to be an evil of great maguitude. Its
hardiness is such, and its rapidity of growth is so great, that it springs up much
more rapidly than any other crop that can be planted, and chokes it. Still it has
Many virtues. It is perfectly cosmopolitan in its habits. It is found in all sorts of
soils and climates. Its creeping roots are succulent, and very uutritive, and are
greedily devoured by horses and cows.

6. A. Scribneri, Vasey. Subalpine situations in the Rocky Moun

tains.
7. A. tenerum, Vasey. Rocky Mountains.

This grass prevails in the Rocky Mountain region trom New
Mexico to Oregon, and has been commonly called a variety of
Agropyrum repens, from which it differs essentially in wanting es

t

running root-stock, and in a narrower nearly cylindrical apike.

occurs mostly in low, moist grounds, and like the .fgropyrcn ghia

cum it is one of the best grasses for hay.

8. A. unilaterale, Vasey &@ Scribner. Subalpino situations in the
Rocky Mountains.

9. A.? violaceum. Rocky Mountains.

7

98
Lepturus, 2. Br.

Spikelets one to two-flowered, single and sessile at each joint of
the alternately excavated rhachis of the simple spike; outer glumes
persistent, rigid, narrow, acute; flowering glumes much- shorter,
thin, hyaline; palet hyaline, two-nerved.

1. L. Bolanderi, Zhurd. California to Oregon.
2. L. filiformis, Zrin. Introduced from Europe.
3. L. incurvatus, Zrin. Introduced from Europe.

Horpeum, Zinn.

Infloresence a dense spike, with two or three spikelets at each
joint of the notched rhachis; spikelets one-flowered, with an awl-
shaped rudiment of a second flower, the central spikelet of the clus-
ter perfect and sessile, the lateral ones short-stalked and imperfect
or abortive; outer glumes side by side, two to each spikelet or six
at each joint, slender and awn-pointed or bristle: form; flowering
glume herbaceous, shorter, oblong or lanceolate, rounded on the
back, not keeled, five-nerved, acute or long awned ; palet shorter,
two-keeled.

1. H. jubatum, Zinn. Wild barley, Squirrel-tail grass. On the
sea-coast, and saline soil in the interior, especially in the
; Rocky Mountains. .
2. H. maritimum, With. Introduced on Ballast.
3. H. murinum, Zinn. Introduced from Europe.

Professor Brewer states that this grass, unfortunately, is exten-
sively naturalized in California, and is a vile pest ; it comes in when
land is overstocked; is known there as “ Squirrel grass,” “ Squirrel
tail,” ‘ Fox tail,” and “ White oats.” The heads break up and the
barbed seeds work into the wool of sheep, and even into the flesh of
lambs, killing them. It damages the eyes and throats of animals.

+. H. pratense, Huds.
An annual or biennial grass growing principally in alkaline soil
in the Western States and Territories. It is eaten by cattle when

in a young state, but when mature it is worthless and pestiferous on
account of its long, barbed awns.

5. H. pusillum, Vudt. Same’range as the preceding.

99
Exymys, Linn.

Spikelets two to four at each joint of the rhachis of the simple
stout spike, sessile, one to six flowered; outer glumes two for each
spikelet, nearly side by side in its front, forming a kind of involucre
for the cluster, narrow, rigid, one to three nerved, acuminate or
awned ; flowering glumes herbaceous, rather shorter, oblong or
lanceolate, rounded on the back, not keeled, acute or awned ; palet
shorter than its glume, two-keeled.

1. E. arenarius, Zinn. Oregon to Alaska.
2. E. Canadensis, Zinn. Wild rye, Rye grass, Lyme grass. New
England to California.
E. Canadensis, var. glaucifolius, Gr. New England to Cali-
fornia. :

A perennial coarse grass, growing on river banks, and in rich
shaded woods. In some localities, especially on moist prairies and
banks in the West, it is quite common and iscut forhay. It should
be cut early to be of value.

3. E. condensatus, Presi. Giant Rye grass. Colorado to Califor-
nia.

This is a perennial grass, ranging from San Diego throughout
California, and into Oregon and Washington Territory, also in the
Rocky Mountain region of the interior. It is very variable, but
always a strong, heavy-rooted, coarse grass, from 3 to 5 or even to 12
feet high. Mr. Bolander states that it seems to do excellent service
by fixing the soil on the banks of creeks and rivers. In the larger
forms the culms are half an inch thick. The leaves are smooth, 2
feet long and an inch wide, or more, and the panicle 8 to 14 inches
long and 14 inches thick. As it usually occurs in arid grounds it is
from 3 to 6 feet high, the leaves about a foot long and half an inch
wide, and the spike-like panicle 4 to 8 inches. In the large form
the branches of the panicle are subdivided and 1 or 2 inches long.

Mr. W. C. Cusick, of Oregon, says:

This is a very valuable grass, commonly known as Rye grass. In Baker county
large quantities are eut for hay, for which it is said to be excellent. It is also much
used as a winter forage plant. Cattle are driven into the dry bottoms where it grows
and live upon it when the shorter grasses are covered with snow.

4. E. dasystachys, Zrin. British America to Alaska.
5. E. Macounii, Vasey. Mountains of Colorado to Oregon and

British America.

100

. mollis, Zrix. Seashore of New England and northward.

. Orcuttianus, Vasey. Southern California.

. Saundersi, Vasey. Mountains of Colorado.

. 7? Sibiricus, Zinn. Rocky Mountains to California.

. Sitanion, Schultz. Rocky Mountains to California.

. striatus, Willd. Smaller Wild Rye. New England to Min-
nesota and southward.
E. striatus, var. villosus, G7. New England to Minnesota and

southward.
12. E. triticoides, .Vutt. Rocky Mountains to California and
Oregon.

Sie ie hale
Sot et tt

10.
11.

This has been considered a variety of /. condensatus, from which
it differs in having strong runners and not growing in thick clumps,
but scattering and singly. Mr. Cusick says it is a valuable grass in
Oregon, aud cut for bay in wild meadows.

13. E. Virginicus, Zinn. Wild Ryegrass. Terril grass. New Eng-
land to Texas.
E. Virginicus, var. submuticus, Hook. Rocky Mountains.

A coarse perennial grass, growing on alluvial river banks or in
rich low grounds. The culm is rather stout, 2 to 3 feet high, leafy ;
the lower leaves are 10 to 15 inches long, broad and rough. The
sheath of the upper leaf usually incloses the stalk, and sometimes
the base of the flower spike. This spike is erect, dense, and rigid,
2 to 4 or 5 inches long and one-half inch thick. The spikelets are
two or three together at each joint, all alike and fertile, sessile, two
to five flowered, and each with a pair of empty glumes. These
glumes are very thick and coarse, strongly nerved, lanceolate, and
bristle-pointed, about 1 inch long. The flowering glumes are of
firm texture, lance-oblong, five-nerved, hairy on the back, and termi-
nating in a stiff, straight awn, half an inch to nearly an inch long,
the lowest one in the spikelet having the longest awn, the others
gradually shorter. The palet is oblong, obtuse, and as long as the
flowering glume, excluding the awn.

This grass frequently forms a considerable portion of native
meadow lands and makes a coarse hay. It starts growth early in
the spring, and thus affords a good pasturage. Professor Killebrew,
of Tennessee, says it is very valuable and ought to be tried in culti-
vation.

Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says:

101

This perennial grass is a native of the Southern States. As all farm stock except
hogs are fond of it, and it is green through the winter and spring, it has been de-
stroyed when grazing animals have access to it at all times. It is, however, found
in many of our States along the banks of wooded streams, of ditches, and in fence-
corners among briers and thickets It will grow on thin clay, gravelly, or sandy
soil, but much better on rich lands, dry or rather moist, and will thrive ten, twenty,
or more years on the same land.

Aspretira, Willd. (Gymnostichum, Schr.)

Spikelets two to three, or sometimes solitary at each joint of the
rhachis, raised on a very short callous pedicel, loosely two to four
flowered (when solitary flatwise on the rhachis) in a loose terminal
spike. Empty glumes none, or small, awn-like, and deciduous;
flowering glumes, narrow, lanceolate, rounded on the back, three to
five-nerved above, long-awned from the apex; palet two-kecled.

1. A. Californica, Benth. California.
2. A. hystrix, Willd. Hedge-hog grass. New England to Texas.

Arunpinaria, J/ich.

Spikelets many-flowered, flattened, racemose or paniculate, the
uppermost flowers imperfect; outer glumes very small, membrana-
ceous, the upper one larger; flowering glumes much larger, mem-
branaceo-herbaceous, convex on the back, not keeled, many-nerved,
acuminate, mucronate or bristle-pointed; palet shorter than its
glume, prominently two-keeled.

1. A. macrosperma, Micha. Southern States. Cane.
2. A. tecta, UuAl. Maryland, Illinois, and south. Switch cane,
Small cane.
Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says of this grass:

This largest of our grasses has a hard woody stem from one-half to 3 inches in
diameter, and from 10 to 40 feet high, erect, tapering from near the base, jointed
every 8 to 12 inches for one-half the length or more, then the joints becoming
shorter and smaller to the top; leaves 1 to 2 inches wide, persistent, on clustered
spreading branches, which also are jointed and appear the second year. On rich
land, m spring, the young stems shoot up full size, 10 or 20 feet high, and are as
crisp as asparagus, and by some persons as much relished. Hogs, cattle, and other
animals are fond of the young plants and seeds. The age at which the large cane
blooms has not been definitely decided. It probably varies with the latitude, soil,
and surroundings, from ten to thirty years. When the seeds mature the cane dies.
Grazing animals feed greedily on the leaves in the winter, and find protection from
the driving rains and piercing winds under the dense roof of the cane brake or thicket.
The stems are used for fishing rods, scaffolds for drying cotton, for pipe stems and
pipes, and splits for baskets, mats, and other purposes. The small cane is different

102

in habit from the large cane. It blooms sometimes two or more consecutive years
without dying down to the root. Live stock like it as well as the large cane. Both
grow best on rich lands, hills or bottoms: but they will grow on thin clay soil, im-
prove it, and, if protected from stock, rapidly extend by sending out long roots
(rootstocks) with buds.

The small cane is found sparingly as far north as Baltimore, Md.
The large cane is probably confined to the Gulf States, but this is
yet uncertain. ‘
Wholenumber of genera... ij .ces scan eweskes ekalaseae es 120
Whole number of species.............. 00 0c ee eee eee eee 675

SYNOPSIS OF THE TRIBES OF NORTH AMERICAN
GRASSES.

Series 1.—Panicacez.

Spikelets articulated with the pedicel below the outer glumes, and
consisting of one fertile terminal flower, and usually an inferior one
which is male or sterile.

Tre 1.—PANICELE.

Fertile spikelets perfect, rarely by abortion unisexual (monecious
or dicecions,) spicate or paniculate. Outer glumes usually two, rarely
one or none, flowering glume indurated in fruit, or at least more rigid
than the outer ones, unawned.

Group 1.—Branches of the simple panicle spike-like, or varionsly
branched, not produced beyond the spikelets.

Genera: 1. Reimeria; 2. Paspalum; 3. Anthenantia; 4. Am-
phicarpum; 5. Eriochloa; 6. Beckmannia; 7. Panicum;
8. Oplismenus; 9. Setaria.

Group 2.—Spikes or racemes simple, solitary or rarely paniculate.
Spikelets surrounded by or intermixed with abortive bran-
ches of the panicle, forming a lobed or bristly involucre,
which is deciduous with the spikelet.

Genera: 1. Cenchrus; 2. Pennisetum.

Group 3.—Spikes one to many on a common peduncle, rhachis pro-

duced beyond the uppermost spikelet.
Genera: 1. Spartina; 2. Stenotaphrum.

Group 4.—

Anomalous genera: 1. Pharus.

103

Trz 2.—MAYDE.

Spikelets unisexual; the male flowers terminal, spicate or panicu-
late; the female ones below, spicate, disarticulating (except in Zea)
with the joints of the rhachis.

Genera: 1. Coix; 2. Tripsacum.

Trise 3.—ORYZEZ.

Spikelets perfect, or rarely unisexual, paniculate or spicate. Outer
glumes usually minute or absent, the flower apparently inclosed by
two one-nerved glumes, the upper of which is generally considered a
palet.

Genera: 1. Hydrochloa; 2. Luziola; 3. Zizania; 4. Leersia.

Trig 4.—TRISTEGINE.

Spikelets perfect, paniculate or sparsely fasciculate. Glumes three
or four, the two or three inferior ones empty, membranaceons ;
the terminal or flowering one awnless or often terminated with a
geniculate awn, and with a hyaline or thinly membrauaceous palet.

Genera: 1. Thurberia.

Trisz 5.—ZOYSIEA.

Spikelets usually perfect, or some of them imperfect, articulated
singly or in fascicles with the inarticulate rhachis of the simple spike ;
flowering glumes membranaceous ; generally the outer or empty ones
smaller and hyaline.

Genera: 1. Hilaria; 2.° Hgopogon; 8. Cathestechum; 4.
Tragus.

Trize 6.—ANDROPOGONE.

Spikelets arranged along the rhachis of the spike or the branches
of the panicle most commonly in twos, or the terminal ones in threes,
homogamous or heterogamons in every pair. Flowering glume
smaller than the empty ones, hyaline, often bearded.

Group 1.—Spikelets spicate, awnless, generally in pairs, in alternate
notches of the generally articuiate rhachis, one, rarely 2,
sessile and fertile, more or less imbedded in the excavation
of the rhachis, one pedicelled and sterile.

104

Genera: 1. Elionurns; 2. Hemarthria; 3. Rottbeellia; +.
Manisuris.

Grove 2.—Spikelets in pairs or threes, one sessile and fertile, and
one or two pedicelled, male, empty or defective, arranged
in spikes, spicate racemes, or open racemes, the flowering
glume of the fertile flower commonly awned.

g 1. Panicle strict or dense.
Generu s 1. Imperata; 2. Erianthus.
$2. Panicle open and loose.
Genera: Andropogon ; Chrysopogon; Sorghum.
§ 3. Flowers in a close spike.
Genera: 1. Heteropogon; 2. Trachypogon; 3. Ischemum.

Series 2.—Poaceze.

Spikelets usually not articulated with the pedicel below the glumes ;
the rhachis continuous above the persistent lower glumes, and dis-
articulating with the flowers or persisting. The spikelets consist
rarely of a single flower, or of one perfect and one or two inferior
imperfect ones, or of from two to many flowers with the upper ones
or some of them imperfect ; the rhachis sometimes produced beyond
the upper flower as a stipe-like pedicel or as an imperfect flower.
The lower glumes are rarely depauperate or wanting.

Tre 1.—PHALARIDE.E.

Spikelets with one perfect terminal flower only, or with the addi-
tion of 2 male or imperfect ones, or with one or two sterile pedicels,
below the perfect flower, and above the lower pair of glumes. Rha-
chilla not prolonged beyond the fertile flower. Perfect flower with-
out a two-nerved palet.

Grove 1.—Rhachis articulated below the spikelet. Flowers with 3
glumes and no palet.
Genus: 1. Alopecurus.
Group 2.—Rhachis articulated above the lower glumes.
Genera: 1. Phalaris; 2. Anthoxanthum; 3. Hierochloa.

Tring 2.—AGROSTIDE.E.

Spikelet perfect, one-flowered ; rhachis often prolonged beyond the
flower into a bristle or stipe.

105

Susrrize 1.—STIPE A.

Spikelets paniculate. Rhachis not produced beyond the flower ;
beard of the flowering glume terminal.
Genera: 1. Aristida; 2. Stipa; 3. Oryzopsis; 4. Milium; 5.
Muhlenbergia; 6. Brachyelytrum.

Susrribe 2.—PHLEOIDEZ.

Spikelets in a dense spike-like or ovoid panicle. Rhachis produced
beyond the flower in a bristle, ornaked. Flowering glumes
awnless, or produced in one to three straight bristles.

Genera: 1. Lyeurus; 2. Heleochloa; 3. Phleum.

Susrrise 3.—SPOROBOLE.

Spikelets usually small, loosely spicate or variously paniculate. Rha-
chis not produced beyond the flower; glumes unawned, or
the flowering glume rarely produced in a short straight
beard.

Genera: 1. Coleanthus; 2. Phippsia; 3. Sporobolus.

Susrripe 4.—EUAGROSTE.

Spikelets generally small; variously paniculate. Flowering glume
usually with a more or less twisted dorsal awn; rarely
mucronate or awnless.

Groop 1.—Rhachilla not. produced beyond the flower.

Genera: 1. Epicampes; 2. Agrostis; 8. Polypogon; 4.
Arctagrostis; 5. Cinna.

Group 2.—Rhachilla produced beyond the flower in a bristle which
may be glabrous or most frequently hairy.

Genera: 1. Gastridium; 2. Apera; 3. Deyeuxia; 4. Ammo-
phila.

Tre 3.—AVENE.

Spikelets two-flowered, rarely many-flowered, often paniculate.
Flowering glumes usually provided with a dorsal or sometimes a
terminal awn, or awnless in some equally two-flowered genera.

Susrrise AIRE.

‘Spikelets two-flowered, paniculate or rarely spicate ; not produced

106

beyond the flowers; flowering glumes awnless or rarely
with a thin short awn.
Genus: 1. Aira.

Susrrinse EUAVENEZ.

Spikelets two to many flowered ; rhachilla more or less produced be-
yond the flowers ; flowering glumes commonly with a dor-
sal or terminal geniculate awn.

Genera: 1. Corynephorus; 2. Deschampsia; 3. Holeus; 4.
Dupontia; 5. Graphephorum ; 6. Trisetum; 7. Avena; 8
Arrhenatherum; 9. Danthonia.

Tre 4.—CHLORIDE.E#.

Spikelets one to many flowered, sessile and secund in two rows
along the rhachis of one-sided spikes.
Group 1.—One or rarely two fertile flowers in the spikelet.
Genera: 1, Cynodon; 2. Ctenium; 3. Chloris; 4. Trichloris;
5. Gymnopogon ; 6. Schedonnardus ; 7. Bouteloua.
Grove 2.—Two to many fertile flowers in each spikelet.
Genera: 1. Eleusine; 2. Leptochloa; 3. Buchloé.

Tre 5.—FESTUCACE.

Spikelets two to many flowered, variously paniculate or rarely
racemose. Flowering glumes awnless, or terminated by one te many
awns.

Susrrise 1.—PAPPOPHOREZ.

Spikelets usually few-flowered ; flowering glumes three to many
awned.
Genera: 1. Pappophorum ; 2. Cottea.

Susrrizse 2.—TRIODIE.®.

Spikelets many-flowered, rarely one or two flowered, rhachilla gla-
brous or short pilose ; glumes one to three nerved, or rarely
many-nerved, three-toothed, three-divided, or three-awned.

Genera: 1. Triodia; 2. Diplachne ; 3. Triplasis; 4. Eremo-
chloa; 5. Scleropogon.

107

Susrrizsze 3.—ARUNDINEAR.

Tall grasses with a many-flowered panicle ; spikelets two to many
flowered ; rhachilla or the flowering glumes generally long

pilose ; flowering glumes three-toothed, or one to three-
awned.

Genera: 1. Arundo; 2. Phragmites.

Susrrizs 4.—SESLERIA.

Spikelets capitate, subspicate, or appressed in a spike-like panicle ;
flowering glumes three to five nerved.
Genera : 1. Monanthochloe; 2. Munroa; 3. Lamarckia.

Susprrizng 5.—EKRAGROSTEA.

Spikelets variously paniculate; flowering glumes, mostly three-
nerved, rarely one-nerved.
Genera: 1. Keeleria ; 2. Eatonia; 3. Dissanthelium ; 4. Cata-
‘brosa ; 5. Eragrostis.

Sustripe 6.—MELICE A.

Flowering glumes three to five or many nerved, more or less invo-
lute, the upper two or more empty or imperfect.
Genera: 1. Melica; 2. Diarrhena; 3. Streptogyne.

Susrrise 7.—EKUFESTUCEZ.

Flowering glumes five to many nerved, the upper one empty, style
short, stigmas plumose; leaves generally narrow, without
transverse veins.

Genera: 1. Pleuropogon; 2. Uniola; 3. Distichlis; 4. Dac-
tylis; 5. Briza; 6. Poa; 7. Glyceria; 8. Arctophila; 9.
Fluminia; 10. Festuca; 11. Bromus.

Trise 6.—HORDEACE.

Spikelets one to many flowered, sessile on the teeth or excavations
of the rhachis of the simple spike.

Susrrise 1.—TRITICE.

Spikelets solitary at the nodes, three to many flowered, rarely two
flowered ; spike usually stout.
Genera : 1. Lolinin; 2. Agropyrum.

108

Suptrise 2.—LEPTUREZ.

Spikelets one to two flowered, solitary at the nodes; spikes slender.
(renus : 1. Lepturus.

Suprrise 3.—ELYMEZ.

Spikelets two to many at each joint of the rhachis. Spike generally

stout.
Genera: 1. Hordeum; 2. Elymus; 8. Asprella.

Trize 7.—BAMBUSEA.

Tall grasses, often woody, at least at the base. Leaves flat, gen-
erally articulated with the sheath, spikelets one to many flowered;
stamens 3, 4, or many.

Genus: 1. Arundinaria.

ERRATA.

Page 82, line 16, for tennifolia read tenuifolia.
‘* 83, number 33, for P. Pringlii read P. Pringlei.
‘* 85, 2d line from bottom, for P. memoralis read P. nemoralis.

INDEX

TO THE GENERA.

Egopogon ere

Agropyrum ...

ABPOBUB. 0: weniss sadaue sacinics

AU acceccnsees wives

AlOpeCOrus iscciisieseccerneevens wines

AmmMophila .is.c0.cgcicswerencressarnseasmes

Amphicarpum............cceee cece eee ee 7

AMATOPOZON .....ceeeeeee cece cece seen cee ees 26

Anthenanthia... 7

Anthoxanthum. 32

Apera .....c ee a ww. 49

Arctagrostis.....10. ccescsessseeseeseseneee 48

Arctophilassiiis « cecscszcues yeeans vesecunes 88

Aristida

Arrhenatherum

Arundo

Arundinaria

Asprella

AVEMNB.. ccc cere

Beckmannia.

Bouteloua

Brachyelytrum

BYIZAssasseseusanciien vere saan maneenmimeinea

BrleOPy TUM secssie se raisaed sarnansan Reaiscniven 76

BrOMUSwicesissweasenses osinnes vaiiers onive wis AOR

Buchloé 64

Calamagrostis ..... 3 .. 50

Catabrosa........ “ 71

Cathestechum... : 23

Cenchrus sass + sasiesencscanspesswsaeneaccces 17

ChlOriscssset vanes seeessiswanacsaasrcennsecns 60

CNONAPOSIUM. vec vec cceeee sees cin eee 63

Chrysopogon .......-...1seeeraes iinbatasice 28

Cinna...........

COLE. scciersensees

Coleanthus ....

Colpodium

Corynephorus.........ceeseeeeeceeeee coos 53

Cottea .....cceee area isaiamsnaaa saw atccinties 65

COPY PSI... 0. cevee cece see rnteet ce eeee cette ees 41
60
59

PaGE
DaetyliSsccnrssexassscsmeen suscosrnnesanw 77
Dactylotenium.. 64
Danthonia..... 58
Deschampsia.. 53
De yeu xia scecsecaravsamanaaenmnncsmeioees 50
Diprthenaseiccnssvuriniiss coenornns 74
LNGUOTIO ». as Sender neseraneadelesionasa tien ane 10
Di CBTO eceniusnseouvsnnanheslecapncasevecens 62
Diplachne........ 67
Dissanthelium. ... 71
Distlichlis .......... 76
DUPOntia. woeas ariconcors cegses aacee 54
OLOUIE asian dies mien Gaeceente mes 70
ee AMEE R cicewny raeane agnaue awaascudpaveneuiay 63
BOWUrUs: 43.. a5 Sk see aes 24
LYN Sie creas aay aa ket, abet ockaeteen dt 99
Epicampes ...... ...cccseeeeeseeeee cece eee 45
Eragrostis ............. mca 1
Eremochloé ....... ore wanes OW
Erianthus..... vee D4
POCIOC OO biss cus scaccantaneduavans caneloseuaden 7
LE TLOCOM isscistcscacunass Sette sucha de a aes ijaeramne 37
HU USTACHY Biicigsin sesstrenis paid gidcna slsajecayia sicayavece 61
PCSEUCA sas desccaissiite aaaengne teary, aeane 89
BGM INI AG sascexsaiine, ceag- ages aeaetenats 88
GastriGiUMNT penouratecmuas svemenemnds 49
Glyceria....... 0... casa 86
Graphephorum ....... 0.0.06. eee cece 55
Greenta..... cc : inug 2D
GYMNOPOPON «2... eee ceee eee eee ten GL
Gy MNOstiChUM.. ...cceccecevceeecees ve. 101
Heleochloaisisscscseesscaxessegiween ioeans 41
Hlemarthrias, reseesanvee queeyee vere sicos 25
Heteropogon ..........ccceeceeeeceeeneeees 26
Hieroch] Otissas civsesnscmvenvescescawseiees 32
UAT i sss seoueneinnenvineractesteon ashiie canes 22
OMCUSi wings seepnsiensneaeneeave sant iecketd 54
Horde wttinen, te venccneeenervanyn sees stack 98
Hydtrochlon..enss ssaseesseurnexeua ceases 20
Imperatensisiccrasaccavawey ssaraenbeseantes 24
Ischzemum.... 26

Kceleriascnsss vucsachsuentoannte celeeenan 70

Lamarckia Polypogon ....
Lappago Psamma....
Leersia.... FRETMATIA Ss iucdasinaxidd cacvan carsumeseeriednsins
Leptochloa ROttboellia aiisiccwccusassecsdocarraneagqatess
Lepturus Schedonnardus
DAMN sscsees coessisrseaniacsctnmenainnssseen 22° | Seleraehines. ssc resencecsnssvacsusacaxwasees
Lolium ............. wna 94
Dophochlends . ...ccccevveecccceececseeveeees 1D | Setaria vessesancsaansvsserusvewvesnccsseeoenes
LUZI018.. cccsnnccsescedaassnsetmareaccuxsasse 20 | Sorghum
DY CONG. co scseesscsssncca seearensvorsonren: Al, "|| “MPA alesear eciroaesc seasecasteecnsssoecees
MAR ISUTUB sac pienvcdsceewecnueie ves vewsied eS? 25 SPOLOWOIUB: 6.05206. caiaatesGesianionsvies
Stenotaphrum..... .... «. 18
BECNOCKION...ccoocceccnsecconcnoeestesesenes 71
Monanthochloé....... ce. seeeeeeeee ees 69> |) ABER ccnccasioneactetuavteraniaiemanes ace 36
Muhlenbergia..... ...........:ccceee eee 38 | Streptogyne............ cece sees seeees 74
MOD OB eas.ass ein eas averse secant van enteeains 69 f “Dhurberia si. cscsincsescsesssasigesevcasocens 22
Oplismenus.. . 15 26
OXY ZOPSIB-. a inszepccameaasersaite, xovearseses 37 23
Panicamscascccsessenseenseocesecnseeeenes 8 66
Pappophorum............cseseeseeeeeseeees 65 61
Ras palumvaccsssoncenassawnenmeermaraaeenes D: || “Triplasisicvenwsnaesmnactesceancanves 67
Pennisetum. . 17 Tripsacum 19
18) | Wriodisissie<.s.c..meaeneiwse acces. 66
E5112) bg (- ee SPS ene rr eee 30 ITPISECUMI, 3. cos cmhedueetcc rte: coda aston 55
PAP PSO ve seriiach acca dea vsawesncwetanienses 4B] Trtticum ote. ccc ccsees evseeseeeseerenees 95
PHVSOM: 35.33 cosicnacsee senisiadintvedeoceas 41 WRI] B isos scsreatiasustigdaizeaias sce samaineleienie 75
68 Oralepis.. 67
22 WV SCY Oss sesesicunisiecv ican tata tenune aie 39
75 Vif Oi iss csacesiccrencvidinan ne sauce Saban ev enedaceicus 43
19 | ZAzanl asa ciscvevesscsuwewsrnseccesaveniscwcas 20