4. E. Sibíricus, L., var. Americànus. Glabrous; spike wand-like (2–6´ long, 2–3´´ thick), often somewhat nodding; spikelets in pairs, 3–6-flowered; glumes linear-lanceolate, 3–5-nerved, acuminate and smooth or often scabrous on the nerves, short-awned, shorter than the flowers, which bear an erect awn of once or twice their length.—Marquette, Mich. (Porter), N. Minn., and westward.
[*][*] Glumes and palet awnless and soft in texture; reed-like perennials.
5. E. móllis, Trin. Culm (3° high) velvety at top; spike thick, erect (8´ long); spikelets 2 or 3 at each joint, 5–8-flowered; the lanceolate pointed 5–7-nerved glumes (1´ long) and the pointed flowers soft-villous; rhachis of the spikelets separating into joints.—Shore of the Great Lakes, Maine, and northward. (Near E. arenarius.)
[*][*][*] Empty glumes very narrow, and all very long-awned; spike disarticulating at maturity.
6. E. Sitànion, Schultes. Low (½–2° high), stout; spike 1–4´ long, the peduncle slightly exserted; the spreading scabrous awns 2–3´ long.—Central Minn. to Kan., and westward.
76. ASPRÉLLA, Willd. Bottle-brush Grass. ([Pl. 11.])
Spikelets 2–3 or sometimes solitary on each joint of the rhachis of a terminal spike, raised on a very short callous pedicel, loosely 2–4-flowered (when solitary flatwise on the rhachis). Glumes none! or small, awn-like, and deciduous. Otherwise nearly as in Elymus. (Name a diminutive of asper, rough or prickly.)
1. A. Hýstrix, Willd. Perennial; culms 3–4° high; leaves and sheaths smoothish; spike loose (3–6´ long); the spreading spikelets 2–3 together, early deciduous; flowers smoothish or often rough-hairy, tipped with an awn thrice their length (1´ long). (Gymnostichum Hystrix, Schreb.)—Moist woodlands. July, Aug.
77. ARUNDINÀRIA, Michx. Cane. ([Pl. 11.])
Spikelets flattened, 5–14-flowered; the flowers somewhat separated on the jointed rhachis. Empty glumes very small, membranaceous, the upper one larger. Flowering glumes and palet herbaceous or somewhat membranaceous, the glume convex on the back, many-nerved, tapering into a mucronate point or bristle. Squamulæ 3, longer than the ovary. Stamens 3. Grain oblong, free.—Arborescent or shrubby grasses, simple or with fascicled branches, and with large spikelets in panicles or racemes; blade of the leaf jointed upon the sheath; flowers polygamous. (Name from arundo, a reed.)