T richodium. Ms . 3. 2.
From the Greek for a hair, on account of the smallness of the
stem. Glume 2-valved, larger than the single palea ; stigma nearly
sessile.
T. larijlorum. Mx. Tickle-grass.. Spread on dry and
rather poor pastures ; often 2 feet high, slender, leafy towards
the base, and dividing into very slender and leafless branches ;
May; June. 'Should be kept down by feeding, as its stem
otherwise becomes too wiry for cattle to e a t; forms a handsome
tu rf; July.
T. scabrum. Muhl. A foot or more high, often geniculate,
or bent like a knee at the joints ; branched, and quite diffuse in
its panicle ; glume serrated and rough on the k e e l; dry woods ;
August; not abundant. Agrostis scabra, Willd.
A ira. L. 3. 2.
A. flexuosa. L. Hair-grass. The only species now belonging
to the genus ; an erect, elegant grass, as it stands waving in
the a ir; not abundant, grows in tufts in the valleys and on hills.
On the east side of Saddle Mountain, at an elevation of more than
2000 feet above the base, it grows in large tufts. It is too hard a
grass to be useful as food for cattle, except when young ; June.
T risetum. Pers. 3. 2.
Taken from Aira, and named from the 3 awns or beards of the
palea, 2 at the tip, and 1 from the middle of the hack; the
glume includes 3 - 5 flowers, and is as long as they are.
T. palustre. Tor. Grows in wet meadows, and has a contracted,
nodding panicle ; June ; rather rare.
T. purpurascens. Torrey. Grows in mountain meadows, 2
feet high, leafy, somewhat branched ; leaves narrow ; not abundant.
U ralepsis. . Nutt. 3. 2.
U. aristulata. Nutt. Taken also from Aira. Glumes 2,
shorter than the florets, including 2 —3 flowers; paleae 2, very
unequal, villous on the margins ; florets standing on short stems
in the glumes ; panicle simple. The culms are cespitose or
growing in dense clusters, with axillary and terminal panicles,
scarcely extending beyond the sheaths ; sea-coast, and sandy
fields ; New Bedford ; August. The plant secretes a viscid, sour
matter, of strong taste. Torrey.
K celeria. Pers. 3. 2.
Glume 2-3-flowered, 2-valved, beardless ; valves shorter
than the lowest floret ; paleae 2 ; spikelets compressed.
Named after Professor Koehler of Mayence, a writer on the
Grasses ; rather handsome plants. Loudon.
K. Pennsylvanica. DC. Grows in rocky woods, 2 feet
high, with a long panicle, flat leaves, and soft, pubescent sheaths ;
May and June.
K. truncata. Tor. Is 2 feet high, slender, with a branching
panicle, loose ; paleae smooth ; dry woods ; June.
Yar. major. Tor. Has a large spreading panicle, and broad-
linear, long leave's.
Both species taken from Aira, and not very abundant.
A lofecurus. L. 3. 2. Fox-tail Grass.
Named from the Greek for fox and tail, from the resemblance
of its spike of flowers to the tail of that animal. The common
Timothy Grass has a similar appearance, and is often so called,
though its spike does not so much resemble the tail of a fox ; and
it is a very different plant, and should not trespass on the appropriate
name of this plant.
Only 3 species of Alopecurus are known in this country ;
A. pratensis, L ., Meadow Fox-tail Grass, is found in rather more
wet situations than A. geniculatus, L. ; both are somewhat procumbent.
A. aristulatus, Mx., has very short awns ; grows
near Boston. They afford good food for cattle.