[*][*] Spikelets 2 or more at each joint of the solitary spike; the empty glumes side by side in front of the spikelets (none or rudimentary in n. 76.)
74. Hordeum. Spikelets 1-flowered, 3 at each joint, the lateral ones usually sterile.
75. Elymus. Spikelets 1–several-flowered, all perfect and similar.
76. Asprella. Spikelets few-flowered, somewhat pedicelled, 1–3 at each joint. Glumes none or small and deciduous.
Tribe XI. BAMBUSEÆ. Tall woody reeds, the flat leaves with a short petiole jointed upon the sheath. Spikelets few–many-flowered, flattened, in panicles or racemes.
77. Arundinaria. Flowering glumes rounded on the back, many-nerved, acuminate or bristle-pointed; empty glumes very small.
1. SPARTÌNA, Schreber. Cord or Marsh Grass. ([Pl. 9.])
Spikelets 1-flowered, very much flattened laterally, jointed and sessile in 2 ranks on the outer side of a triangular rhachis. Glumes 3, unequal, lanceolate, strongly compressed-keeled, acute or bristle-pointed, mostly rough-bristly on the keel; palet thin, equalling or longer than the flowering glume. Stamens 3. Styles long, more or less united.—Perennials, with simple and rigid often reed-like culms, from extensively creeping scaly rootstocks, racemed spikes, very smooth sheaths, and long tough leaves (whence the name, from σπαρτίνη, a cord, such as was made from the bark of the Spartium or Broom).
[*] Spikelets compactly imbricated, very rough-hispid on the keels; spikes (2–4´ long) more or less peduncled; culm and elongated leaves rigid.
1. S. cynosuroìdes, Willd. (Fresh-water Cord-Grass.) Culm rather slender (2–6° high); leaves narrow (2–4° long, ½´ wide below or less), tapering to a very slender point, keeled, flat, but quickly involute in drying, smooth except the margins; spikes 5–20, scattered, spreading; rhachis rough on the margins; glumes awn-pointed, especially the middle one (its awn about ¼´ long), strongly serrulate-hispid on the keel, the lower equalling the upper, whose strong midrib abruptly terminates below the membranous apex.—Banks of rivers and lakes, or in rich soil, especially northward. Aug.