E. pilòsa, Beauv. ([Pl. 10], fig. 1–4.) Panicle elongated-oblong, with rather erect branches (except at flowering-time); spikelets 5–12-flowered (2–4´´ long, purplish-lead-color), becoming linear, about equalling their pedicels; empty glumes (small) and flowering ones obtuse, the latter broadly ovate, 1-nerved (lateral nerves obsolete).—Sandy or gravelly waste places, S. New Eng. to Ill., and southward. Aug.—Plant 6–12´ high. (Nat. from Eu.)
2. E. Fránkii, Meyer. Much branched and diffuse (3–8´ high); panicle ovate-oblong, rather dense, spreading; spikelets 2–5-flowered (1–1½´´ long), on slender pedicels; glumes very acute; the flowering one ovate, acute, rather obscurely 3-nerved.—Low or sandy ground, S. Penn. to Kan., and southwestward. Aug.
3. E. Púrshii, Schrader. Sparingly branched at the decumbent base, then erect (½–2° high); panicle elongated, the branches widely spreading, very loose; spikelets 5–18-flowered, oblong-lanceolate, at length linear (2–4½´´ long), mostly much shorter than their capillary pedicels; glumes all ovate and acute, or the flowering ones acutish, 3-nerved.—Sandy or sterile open grounds, Penn. to Mo., and southwestward; also introduced northward.
[++] Culms simple, or branching only at the very base, firm, erect, mostly forming thick tufts; leaves very long; panicle very large, compound, often longer than the culm, with elongated loosely-flowered branches, their axils often bearded. (Doubtful perennials, or n. 5 annual.)
4. E. ténuis, Gray. Panicle virgately elongated (1–2½° long), very loose, the spreading branches bearded in some of the lower axils, their remote divisions and long diverging pedicels capillary; spikelets 2–6- (sometimes 7–12-) flowered, pale or greenish; lower glumes lanceolate or awl-shaped, very acute (1½–2´´ long), membranaceous, as are the oblong-lanceolate acute flowers; flowering glume distinctly 3-nerved; the upper ciliate-scabrous.—Sandy soil, Ohio to Ill., Kan., and southward. Aug.–Oct.—Leaves rather rigid, 1½–2° long, glabrous or sparingly hairy; the sheaths hairy or glabrous; the throat strongly bearded; flowers much larger than in the next, fully 1½´´ long.
5. E. capillàris, Nees. Panicle widely expanding, usually much longer than the culm, its spreading branches (mostly naked in the axils) and long diverging pedicels capillary; spikelets rather terete, very small, 2–4-flowered, greenish or purplish; glumes and flowers ovate, acute (less than 1´´ long); flowering glume obscurely 3-nerved, scarcely keeled; the palet rough-ciliate.—Sandy dry soil and fields; common, especially southward. Aug., Sept.—Leaves and sheaths very hairy, or nearly glabrous; the former about 1° long, not rigid; panicle 1–2° long, soon diffuse.
6. E. pectinàcea, Gray. Panicle widely diffuse, its rigid divergent main branches bearded in the axils; the capillary pedicels more or less appressed on the secondary branches; spikelets flat, 5–15-flowered, becoming linear, purple or purplish; glumes and flowers ovate or oblong-ovate, acutish; flowering glume strongly 3-nerved; palet hirsute-ciliate.—Leaves long, rigid, mostly hairy, the sheaths especially so; plant 1–3° high; spikelets 2–3´´ long, 1´´ wide, closely flowered.—Var. spectábilis, Gray. Leaves and sheaths mostly glabrous; branches of the panicle (the lower reflexed with age) and pedicels shorter; spikelets rather larger.—Sandy dry ground, from E. Mass. near the coast, and from Ohio and Ill., southward. Aug.–Oct.
7. E. campéstris, Trin. Glabrous or the sheaths villous at the throat; culm short, bearing an elongated and very open panicle with divaricate branches bearded at base; spikelets linear, flat, 8–12-flowered, sessile or nearly so along the branchlets; glumes very acute or acuminate, 3-nerved, roughish on the keel; palet minutely ciliate. (E. pectinacea, var. refracta, Chapm. Poa refracta, Ell.)—Del. and Md. to Fla. and Ala.
58. MÉLICA, L. Melic-Grass. ([Pl. 10.])
Spikelets 2–8-flowered; the 1–3 upper flowers imperfect and dissimilar, convolute around each other, and enwrapped by the upper fertile flower. Empty glumes usually large, scarious-margined, convex, obtuse; the upper 7–9-nerved. Flowering glume papery-membranaceous, dry and sometimes indurating with age, rounded or flattish on the back, 5–many-nerved, scarious at the entire blunt summit. Stamens 3.—Perennials with soft flat leaves. Panicle simple or sparingly branched; the rather large spikelets racemose-one-sided. (An old Italian name for Sorghum, from mel, honey.)