1. H. jubàtum, L. (Squirrel-tail Grass.) ([Pl. 11], fig. 1, 2.) Low; lateral flowers abortive, on a short pedicel, short-awned; the perfect flower bearing a capillary awn (2´ long) about equalling the similar capillary glumes, all spreading.—Sandy sea-shore, upper Great Lakes, and westward. June.
2. H. praténse, Huds. Low (6–18´ high); lateral flowers imperfect or neutral, awnless or merely pointed; perfect flower with awn as long as those of the glumes (3–6´´); spike linear, 1–2´ long.—Plains, especially in saline soil, Ohio to Ill. and westward; also sparingly introduced, Va., and southward along the coast. May, June. (Eu.)
75. ÉLYMUS, L. Lyme-Grass. Wild Rye. ([Pl. 11.])
Spikelets 2–4 at each joint of the rhachis of a terminal spike, all fertile and alike, sessile, each 1–7-flowered. Glumes conspicuous, nearly side by side in front of the spikelets, 2 for each spikelet, forming an involucre to the cluster. Flower coriaceous; the glume rounded on the back, acute or awned at the apex. Grain adherent to the involving glume (whence the name, an ancient one for some grain, from ἐλυω, to roll up).
[*] Glumes and flowers firm or rigid, all or only the latter awned; spikelets 1–5-flowered; slender perennials, with rather harsh and broad flat leaves.
[+] Spike large and stout.
1. E. Virgínicus, L. ([Pl. 11], fig. 1–3.) Culm stout, 2–3° high; spike rigidly upright, dense (2–3´ long, 6´´ thick), the short peduncle usually included in the sheath; spikelets 2–3 together, 2–3-flowered, smooth, rather short-awned, about the length of the thickened strongly-nerved and bristle-pointed lanceolate glumes.—River-banks; common. Aug.
2. E. Canadénsis, L. Spike soon nodding (5–9´ long), on an exserted peduncle; spikelets mostly in pairs, of 3–5 long-awned rough or rough-hairy flowers; the awl-shaped glumes tipped with shorter awns.—Var. glaucifòlius, Gray, is pale or glaucous throughout, the flowers with more spreading awns (1½´ long).—Var. intermèdius, Vasey, has the awns scarcely longer than the glumes.—River-banks; common.
[+][+] Spike and culm more slender.
3. E. striàtus, Willd. More or less pubescent; spike dense and thickish (2–4´ long), upright or slightly nodding; spikelets mostly in pairs, 1–2- (or rarely 3-) flowered, minutely bristly-hairy; glumes awl-shaped, bristle-awned, 1–3-nerved, about thrice the length of the flowers, which are only 3´´ long exclusive of the capillary awn (1´ long).—Var. villòsus, Gray, has very hairy flowers and glumes, and villous sheaths.—Rocky woods and banks. July, Aug.